308 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
of a dull greyish-brown colour, minutely mottled all over. Axis, 
10” ; diam. 6’”. 
In Natal, writes Mr. Ayres, they frequent ‘the open country, 
feeding upon the nectar of the various kinds of aloes abounding in 
some localities and also on that of some species of lilies which are 
numerous in many of the valleys. When disturbed, they generally 
fly right away, unless their attention is attracted by some flower or 
by others of their own species.”” My. Andersson observes :—“ It is 
usually found permanently established where it has once taken up 
its abode. Its food consists of insects and the saccharine juices of 
flowers, in search of which it flits incessantly from one flowering 
tree to another, now settling and now hovering, but glittering all the 
while in the sunshine like some brilliant insect or precious gem. 
The male in addition to the beauty of its plumage possesses a very 
pleasant warble.” 
General colour, shining malachite green; wings and tail blackish ; 
pectoral tufts brilliant yellow; two centre tail-feathers prolonged three 
inches beyond the rest. Total length, 9’’ ; wing, 3’’; tail, 5” 5'’’. 
Female-—Above dull brown tinged with green, below greenish 
yellow, brightest on the belly and vent, mottled with brown on the 
throat and chest, under tail coverts whitish. Length, 6”; tail, 2”3’. 
The young male resembles the adult female. 
Fig. Shelley, Monogr. Cinnyride, part 1. 
294. ANTHROBAPHES VIOLACEA. 
South African Wedge-tailed Sun-bird. 
Nectarinia violacea, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 78. 
Captain Shelley writes‘as follows :—* The South African Wedge- 
tailed Sun-bird forms, I consider, the connecting link between the 
African genus Nectarinia and the Oriental A?thopyga: to the former 
it is allied in the shape and length of its bill, and in not possessing 
the loose downy feathers on the middle of the back, which are so 
characteristic of the genus Athopyga, while to the latter it shows 
its affinities in the form of the tail. This last character, together 
with the metallic colouring of the least series of wing-coverts, and 
the orange yellow breast distinguish it from all the other members 
of the family.” 
This sun-bird appears to affect wild, uncultivated country and 
mountains, more than the other species, 0. chalybeus, 0. afer, or N. 
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