Printed on the plate
“Penang Sun-bird”
Nectarinia insignis
Engraved caption: NECTARINIA INSIGNIS. Gould.
Modern identification
Leptocoma calcostetha
- Certain
- Checked against the engraved caption
- Sunbirds and Spiderhunters · Nectariniidae
Why
Gould's Nectarinia insignis (renamed fulgida) is a single Penang skin: green crown, coppery-red throat, purple-blue breast, black belly, yellow pectoral tufts. That is the male Copper-throated Sunbird; Gadow (Cat. Birds BM ix) lists the plate under Chalcostetha insignis. A Crimson Sunbird has a red back and no tufts.
Sources
List of Plates (vol. II); engraved caption on the leaf; the text leaf bound after the plate; Kansas catalogue; Sharpe, Cat. Birds BM ix; the plate
Who made the plate
J. Gould & H. C. Richter, del et lith.Walter, Imp.
- John Gould drew and lithographed
- Henry Constantine Richter drew and lithographed
- Walter printed
As the credit line gives it. More on who made these plates.