40 Mr. Austin Roberts on 



This smaller egg may be that of the Emerald Cuckoo, which 

 is found there. Another single egg taken at the same place 

 is like the two larger ones in the clutch of three in shape, 

 though the markings are slightly different ; it measures 

 20*2 X 12'3 mm. Others taken at about the same time did 

 not differ materially from the elongated ones mentioned 

 above. Specimens from Albany District, taken in January 

 and February, differ in colour inter se ; but are elongated 

 in shape, and measMre 20"2-21 x 12'5-I3 7 mm. Nests are 

 suspended from the lower drooping branches of large trees, 

 often at a great height from the ground. 



Greater Double-collared Sunbird [Cinnyris afer). — This 

 species was often observed, es{)ecially at the tubular flowers 

 of parasitic plants. Its nest is usually placed on the droop- 

 ing boughs of small trees or creepers overhanging rocks ; 

 the eggs are white with a patchy suffusion of earthy brown, 

 over which there are smudges, spots, and streaks of dark 

 brown, and they measure 18*5-10 G X 12-12*5 mm. The 

 breeding-season is October to Decf^nber, though much 

 depends ou the flowers it is partial to. 



White-breasted Sunbird {Cinnj/ris lencogaster). — This is 

 essentially a bushveld species, and perhaps the commonest. 



Southern Bifasciated Sunbird (Ciiini/ris mariquens'is). — This 

 species was described from specimens taken in what is prac- 

 tically similar country to the bushveld of Pretoria District. 

 It is fairly plentiful. Eggs taken at the Crocodile River in 

 October are coloured like those of C. amethysthrus, though 

 somewhat smaller, measuring 18'7-19*5 X i;5-8-15 mm. 



Black Tit (Parns niger). — This species, together with the 

 next, is often to be seen in the larger trees. A nest taken 

 from a natural crack in a tree on the Magaliesberg at the 

 end of October contained four much incubated eggs ; they 

 are white with numerous markings of light red and a little 

 slate-blue, rather round in shape, and measure about 

 20-7 X 14-7 mm. 



