r 
CINNYRIS GUTTURALIS, 311 
species of the genus Cinnyris, which appears to us undescribed.” 
It was subsequently described and figured by him (Ill. Zool. S. Afr., 
Aves, pl. 57) as O. olivaceus. All the specimens which we have 
seen have been from the colony of Natal, whence Captain Harford 
sent us examples: according to his observations it breeds there 
in November, the eggs being ght brown, so profusely mottled 
with purplish brown as almost to conceal the ground-colour. 
Captain Shelley found them rare at Durban, but at Pimetown in 
February and March they were far more common, being usually seen 
in pairs among the tall trees which grow by the sides of the water- 
courses ;. they appeared to him to prefer the higher branches to the 
low, tangled brushwood. Mr. Ayres also writes :—“ These birds are 
common on the coast and for some distance inland ;, they are parti- 
cularly fond of shady banana groves, taking the nectar from the 
long: drooping flowers of the plant, and chasing one another about 
with great pertinacity. The plumage of the female is not so bright 
as that of the male.” , 
The plain olive colouring of this bird is its most distinguishing 
character; both sexes have a yellow pectoral tuft. 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, 5”; bill, 1” 3”. 
Fig. Shelley, Monogr. Cinnyride, part 2. 
297. CINNYRIS GUTTURALIS. Scarlet-chested Sun-bird. 
Nectarinia natalensis, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 80. 
This fine species is not an inhabitant of the Cape Colony, and it 
does not appear to descend further than Natal. Here it breeds, 
according to Captain Harford, who has sent us specimens. Mr. T. 
Ayres has also found it breeding in that colony, and he states that 
it “hangs its nest on the outer twigs of trees, at no great height 
from the earth and frequently over water.” Captain Shelley has 
received several examples from Pinetown and Durban, sent to him 
by Mr. T. L. Ayres, who informs him that in this district it is 
migratory, only arriving there in the cold season, and is never very 
plentiful. Mr. T. E. Buckley writes :—“TI only met with this bird 
in the Matabili country about the Imguisi and Samouqui rivers, and 
