82 REV. ROCKRT GODFREY 



The period of .song, though uot fully observed, seemb 

 to coincide with the period of full nuptial dress, lasting 

 from about IDtli September to May 6th. As the bird 

 sings lie very distinctly opens and closes liis bill, as if 

 lie were chewing his notes. The call, resembling seem or 

 seep, is a fairly loud, single note, which, being persistent 

 ly repeated, challenges attention. 



Pym records hnding a nest locally in January, 1907, 

 with two eggs. 



Ivesser r)ou])le-('ollared Honeysucker — Cinnyrii 

 chalyhaeus (L). — This, the most abundant and the best 

 known of all our local honeysuckers, occurs wherever 

 there are nectar-bearing flowers to supply its needs, and 

 it is equally at home when taking toll from the orna 

 mental shrubs and flowers around our houses, or from 

 such conmion veld-]>lants as the Ded Dagga with whose 

 foxy-red blossoms the breast of the male so beautifully 

 liarmonises, or from the flowering trees of the forest. 



The male in nuptial dress is a gorgeous little fellow, 

 quite conscious of his charms and ready to dispute his 

 sui)eriority with any rival. As individual males may be 

 seen throughout the winter decked in all the glory of 

 their metallic sheen, it is difficult to determine the exact 

 period at which they don the eclipse plumage of t)ie fe- 

 male. This irregularity regarding the date of dofifing his 

 nu])tial robes leads to ii-regularity in the period of song, 

 and full-dressed males sing throughout the winter 

 months. It is very doubtful, indeed, if this species has 

 any jjeriod of silence, though my note-book fails to record 

 any instance of his singing in March or in April. 



While giving vent to his loud, bold strains, the little 

 songster fldgets about restlessly on his perch and bids 

 defiance to all his kinsmen ; two rivals, singing in each 

 other's presence, will disjjlay in challenging mood the 

 yellow pectoral tufts whch normally are hidden out of 

 sight, and they will then rise in the air for combat. 



On 4 November, 1909, on the outskirts of the Pirio 

 forest, one or Iwo of these honevsuckers attracted atten- 



