Expedition to the Zambesi River. 557 



the Zambesij considerable numbers of these Sun-birds sud- 

 denly appeared on December 13, among the aeacia-growth 

 then in full blossom. We collected seven specimens, one 

 adult female and six males, two of which were moulting, 

 while the remaining four were in dull plumage with upper 

 parts similar to those of the adult female, chin and throat 

 brownish black, underparts yellowish mottled with brown. 

 The process of moult in the other two birds goes to show, in 

 our opinion, that they are discarding the breeding-dress for 

 this dull plumage just described. According to Mr. Alex- 

 ander Whyte, they breed about June in Nyasalaud, and 

 therefore by the end of December breeding Avould have 

 finished, and the adult males would then have assumed, or 

 nearly so, a dull plumage, for these dull-plumaged males we 

 obtained were certainly adults and not birds of the year, in 

 fact, according to our note-book, " the sexual organs were 

 too much developed to be those of immature birds." 



Total length 



(measured in flesh). Culmen. Wing. Tail, 



in. in. in. in. 



Adult d" (moulting) 4-25 0-062 2-2 1-56 



„ (dull plumage) .... 4-23 0-061 2-1 1-55 



Adult $ 3-6 0-059 1-8 1-35 



5. ClNNYRIS LEUCOGASTER Vicill. 



With the exception of Chalcomitra gutturalis, this species 

 was the most abundant of the Sun-birds along the river, but at 

 the same time its distribution was local. Wherever the thick 

 woods gave way to open spots interspersed with acacia-bushes 

 these little Sun-birds mustered in considerable numbers, full 

 of activity, hardly heeding one^s approach, but devoting all 

 their attention to the acacia-blossoms. After emerging 

 from a silent and gloomy forest, it was a relief to come to 

 such a spot, looking like a glimpse of fairyland itself: the 

 bright light playing upon the tender green of the acacias, 

 starred with innumerable feathery blossoms, among which 

 the Sun-birds were revelling, the sunlight catching the 

 peacock-blue of their backs as they travelled with jerky 

 dancing flight from one bush to another ; while from time to 



