Birds of the Gold Coast Colony S^c. 287 



8. Chalcomitra senegalensis (Linu.), 



Chalcomitra senegalensis Shelley, B. A£i\ ii. p. 89 (1900). 



Cinnyris senegalensis Gadow, Cat. B. ix. p. 94 (1884) ; 

 Reicheu. J. f. O. 1897, p. 46 (Togoland). 



It was not till we reached Gambaga that we noticed this 

 species. It is the common Sun-bird of the Hinterland, 

 resorting to the belts of trees which line the banks of the 

 small watercourses. In December we found it in pairs m 

 full breeding-plumage, frequenting open ground and flying 

 from one low bush to another. At the end of April, 

 when the first rain was experienced, a large tree with shiny 

 leaves, common along the banks of the streams, broke out 

 into white blossoms, like those of our horse-chestnut. These 

 trees were immediately besieged by numbers of this Sun- 

 bird, both old and young, the males predominating to a 

 large extent. They were full of activity, the males keeping 

 up a continual chattering — a musical chirp, not unlike that 

 of a Sparrow. The gradations of plumage through which 

 the young bird passes until adult plumage is attained are 

 well dehned : — 



(a) Nestling ; similar to the female, but throat and fore- 

 neck dull black. 



(6) Chin, upper throat, and chest assuming the adult 

 coloration. 



(c) Breast and underparts following suit. 



[d) Upper parts, moustachial band, and crown also in 

 full plumage. 



This same process of change of plumage is followed in 

 C. gutturalis [cf. Ibis, 1899, p. 560). 



9. Chalcomitra adelberti (Gerv.). 



Cinnyris adelberti Gadow, Cat. B. ix. p. 99; Reichen. 

 J. f. O. 1897, p. 46 (Togoland) ; Shelley, B. Afr. ii. p. 112. 



Prahsu and Fumsu. 



Not common, keeping much to the tops of the tall forest- 

 trees in the neighbourhood of the native villages. 



Our immature males, killed in August, have no metallic 

 colouring, and are similar to the female, except that the chin 



