PliOMEROPID^. 75 



Measurements of a male and a female : — 



Male. Female, 



in. lin. in. Un. 



Entire length 61 60 



Length of folded wing ..21 20 



„ tarsus ....07 07 



„ middle toe ... 5 04 



„ tail 3 3 



biU 10 10 



MELIPHAGID^. 



93. Zosterops capensis, Sund. Cape White-eye. 

 Le Tcheric, Levaillant's Ois. d'Afr. pi. 132. 

 Zosterops ca^iensis, Layard's Cat. No. 215. 



I have only once or twice observed this species in the 

 southernmost parts of Great Namaqua Land, along the 

 periodical watercourses bordered by Mimosas ; but from 

 thence southwards it becomes more numerous, and at 

 the Cape and in many parts of the Colony it is abundant : 

 a pair or two may be seen any day in most of the gardens 

 in the immediate environs of the Cape. It is met with 

 in small families, probably the entire broods of the 

 season. It feeds on small insects and larvse, for which 

 it searches diligently amongst low bushes and trees. It 

 is quite tame ; and it is not very difficult to approach it 

 near enough to distinguish the colour of its eye, beak, 

 &c. It forms its nest on the extremity of some branch 

 of a low tree ; the nest is very prettily shaped, and is 

 composed of loose tendi'ils interlaced, covered with moss 

 outside, and lined internally with hair &c. The eggs 

 are four or five in number, and are said to be incubated 

 by both parents. 



