Ornithology of the Gold Coast. 59 



at certain seasons of the year, when it frequents the large 

 flowering-trees of the forest in company with many other 

 species. 



82. Nectarinia superba, V. : Sharpe, p. 38. 



This species, although not so common as N. splendida and 

 some other species, is not rare. Its habits appear to corre- 

 spond in every degree with those of the above-named bird, 

 which it excels, if possible, in the beauty of its plumage. 



83. Nectarinia johann^, Verr. : Sharpe, p. 38. 



This beautiful Sunbird is of very rare occm"rence on the 

 Gold Coast, and I do not recollect having seen more than 

 three specimens during a stay of many years. Those which 

 I obtained have been from the interior. 



84. Nectarinia splendida (Shaw) : Sharpe, p. 38. 



This beautiful little bird is widely distributed on the Gold 

 Coast. There are very few places where the active little crea- 

 ture cannot be observed sitting on flowering-shrubs and suc- 

 culent plants. He generally selects some middling-sized shrub 

 or bush for his nest, and he appears exceedingly attentive to 

 the female during incubation. 



At certain seasons of the year (about the months of De- 

 cember and January) great numbers can be observed flitting 

 over the huge tulip-shaped scarlet flowers of a species of 

 Bombax, which is of frequent occurrence in the open spaces 

 of the forests of Fantee, the trees being at this time entirely 

 denuded of foliage, so that the birds can easily be obtained by 

 the collector, although in the upper branches they are almost 

 invisible from their small size and quick movements. At this 

 period they appear to associate freely with other birds ; and 

 from two trees in the neighbourhood of Cape Coast I have ob- 

 tained specimens oiN. splendida, N. super ba, N. adelberti, N. 

 chloropygia, N. subcollaris, N. cyanocephala, N. cyanolcema, 

 and N. cuprea, &c. &c. After each shot they mostly plunged 

 down en masse into the low bushes, but returned almost im- 

 mediately to their feeding-grounds. The beauty of the plu- 

 mage of N. splendida and N. superba can only be understood 



