during the expedition to the Niger. 187 



The entire collection contained only four species, three of 

 which belong to the genus Nectarinia of Illiger ; the fourth is 

 the common green-banded cuckoo of Southern Africa. 



Chrysococcyx auratus. — A single specimen only occurs, ex- 

 hibiting an intermediate state of plumage. On the upper parts, 

 although the metallic lustre of the feathers is present, nearly 

 all the white markings of the adult bird are there of a pale 

 orange-red : beneath, the chin, throat, and upper part of the 

 breast are entirely of that colour, the centre of the feathers 

 darker; while the remaining under parts are white, with the dark 

 metallic barring of the adult, and slightly tinted with reddish. 



Nectarinia cyanocephata, Shaw, 1812. (C. chloronotus, 

 Swain.) — Three specimens of the male form part of the col- 

 lection, not apparently differing from those obtained in other 

 parts of Western Africa. In one the process of moulting has 

 commenced, and shows that the dark steel-blue of the head 

 and neck is exchanged after the breeding-season for the more 

 sombre olive colour of the back, becoming paler on the throat 

 and upper part of the breast. 



Nectarinia Stangerii, Jard., 1842. — This bird, so far as we 

 can ascertain, is an undescribed species ; and we trust that 

 those who are averse to the indiscriminate use of proper 

 names as specific designations, will wave their dislike while we 

 endeavour to place a record, alike upon an important expedi- 

 tion and the services of one on whom devolved the safe con- 

 duct of the party to its termination when almost worn out by 

 disease*. This interesting species belongs to those with dark 

 plumage, soft and velvet-like to the feel, and having a coronal 

 and gular patch of imbricated shining feathers. N. amethy- 

 stina and fuliginosa may be considered as allied to it, and re- 

 present the artificial group. The Niger bird, of which there 

 is a single specimen apparently in complete breeding state, 

 has the upper parts, cheeks and sides of the neck of a yellow- 

 ish umber-brown, with bright reflections when looked at be- 

 tween the light; the under parts are dark umber- brown, and 

 when seen across in the same manner have the reflections 

 purple; there are no coloured axillary tufts. The coronal 

 patch extends from the bill to the line of the eyes, dark bluish 



* " From want of engineers we should have had to drop down the whole 

 length of the river without steam, had not Dr. Stanger, the geologist, in the 

 most spirited manner, after consulting Tredgold's work on Steam, and getting 

 some little instruction from the convalescent engineer, undertaken to work 

 the engine himself. The heat of the engine-room affected the engineer so 

 much as to throw him back in his convalescence and prevent him from ren- 

 dering any further assistance ; but Dr. Stanger took the vessel safely below 

 Eboe without anything going wrong with the machinery." — dthenceum, Jan. 

 29, 1842. Letter of C 'apt. II. D. Trotter. 



