37 1 Mr. T. E. Buckley on Birds observed 



Beak red at base, black at tip ; orbital space red ; legs red ; 

 iris dark hazel. 



Very common throughout the Transvaal ; found in flocks 

 of six or eight or more ; they fly with a rapid and straight 

 flight, and, when disturbed, generally all go ofl" together. 



Nectarinia famosa (L.). 



(J. Drakenberg, Natal, December 19th, 1873. 



Beak and legs black ; iris dark hazel. 



Only seen in this one place, but most likely a summer visi- 

 tant. About here I found several pairs living amongst the 

 thick patches of bush along the small streams that run down 

 the side of the Drakenberg. They were restless, but not at 

 all shy. 



Nectarinia bifasciata (Shaw). 



a, c?, b, ? . Towanni River, Bamangwato, October 23, 

 1873. 



Bill black ; legs black ; iris dark hazel. 



Quite the commonest Sun-bird from north of Pretoria into 

 the Matabili country. They were generally to be seen in 

 pairs, or perhaps two cocks chasing a hen. Like all dark- 

 coloured Sun-birds, the beautiful plumage of the male is only 

 to be seen on a near approach. From a specimen I have in 

 my collection it would appear that the male changes from 

 the sober colours of the female into his own lovely hues in 

 October. The habits of all the Sun-bii'ds seem to be similar, 

 very lively and restless, rarely remaining long in one tree, 

 unless attracted by an abundance of flowers, in which no 

 doubt their food is to be found. The males are much shyer 

 than the females. I did not observe this species in Natal. 



Nectarinia gutturalis (L.). 



^ . Matabili, October 8th, 1873. 



I only met with this bird in the Matabili country about the 

 Imquisi and Samouqui rivers; and even there they were not 

 very abundant. The young male gets the scarlet plumage on 

 the throat first, the feathers of the back being of a light 

 greyish brown. 



