78 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



were said to have been taken from a domed nest, suspended from the 

 end of a twit?. Since this was written (1865), I have found several 

 nests containing eggs, and can confirm the account given me by my 

 correspondent. The eggs are — axis, 10'"; diam., 6'". 



It abounds on the Cape Flats during the flowering of the protea, 

 from which it extracts the saccharine juice by means of its long brush- 

 tipped tongue. 



128. Nectarinia Cinerea, Vieil. ; GertUa Cinerea, 

 Linn. ; Lesson, Vol. 2, p. 28. 



Head, neck, top of the back, and breast, greyish-brown ; a 

 yellow line on each cheek ; the lower part of the back, wing- 

 coverts, and rump, brilliant green ; throat pale-yellow, mixed 

 with golden-green down the centre and on the breast ; belly 

 white ; tail brown. Length, 8^ inches, French. 



M. VieiUot thinks that this is a young bird. I agree with him ; and 

 should say it was the young of C. Famosa ! As a species, I have never 

 met with it. 



129. Nectarinia Olivacea, Smith, in., s. Af. 



ZooL, PI. 57. 

 The colour of this species, above, is intermediate between 

 grass and olive-green, the head being strongly tinged with 

 blue ; below it is light, yellowish-green, with an orange tint 

 on the throat, and on each axilla there is a small tuft of 

 brilliant yellow feathers. Length, from the base of the bill 

 to the point of the tail, b" ; bill, 1" 3'". 



Of this bird. Dr. Smith says : " In the same country in which we 

 found C. Verroxii, we discovered another species of the genus 

 Cinnyris, which appears to us uudescribed, and which we shall here- 

 after figure under the name of C. OUvacms." 



Mr. Ayres has procured it at Natal. (Ibis 1866, p. 347.) 



130. Nectarinia Violacea. (L.) pi. Eni., p. 67o, 



£ 2. ; Certhia Crocata, Shaw ; Jard. Sunhirds, PL 16 ; 

 Cuv., Yol. 2, p. 364. ; Cinnyris Aurantia, Lath. ; 

 Soui Manga Orang^, Le Vail., PI. 292. 



Head, neck, throat, and shoulders, shining green ; breast 

 shining violet ; back, wings, and tail, olive-green ; belly and 

 vent, deep orange and yellow; side-tufts yellow; centre 

 feather of tail prolonged about 1| inch beyond the rest, and 

 darker. Total length, 6i" ; wing, 21" ; tail, 3" 2'". 



This sunbird appears to afiect wild, uncultivated country and moun- 

 tains, more than the other species, N. Chalybca, Afra, or Famosa ; 

 indeed, I never observed it near habitations. It is plentiful on the 



