CINNYRIS FUSCUS. 317 
other parts deep, rich, velvety purple-brown. Length, 6”; wing, 
3”; tail, 110”. 
Fig. Shelley, Monogr. Cinnyride, part I. 
301. CrnnyRis KIRKII. Eastern Amethyst Sun-bird. 
Captain Shelley writes :—‘‘I have founded this new species of 
Sun-bird upon an adult male specimen in the British Museum, 
collected by Dr. Kirk in the Zambesi district: it is the Hast African 
representative of C. amethystinus, from which bird it may readily be 
distinguished by its having no metallic colours on the upper tail- 
coverts, while it is also smaller.” Dr. Kirk obtained a young male 
at Shupanga, and he observes (Ibis, 1864, p. 20) :—‘ Native name 
‘Sungwe.’? The Sun-birds are abundant in open ground covered 
with low, flower-bearing bushes, such as Poivreas, Dalbergias, 
Acacias, &e. ; and they frequent especially such plants as the Leonitis, 
searching inside the corolla for insects, and probably sucking the 
saccharine juices. Before the rains they lose the fine plumage, and 
become of a dull mixed colour. December is the breeding-season ; 
nests have been observed among the grass, attached to its stalks, 
and in the bushes. The’ young birds may be kept for some time 
upon honey or sugar and water, which they lick up greedily from a 
straw or the corolla of a plant ; but the absence of insect food pro- 
bably causes them to die.” his species ranges up the east coast as 
high as Mombas, where Mr. Wakefield procured it. 
302. CrnnyRis FUSCUS. White-vented Sun-bird. 
Nectarinia fusca, Layard, B.S. Afr. p. 79. 
The accounts of the distribution of this bird are very imperfect, 
and much more information is wanted on the subject. We have 
received it from Mr. Ortlepp at Colesberg, and Mr. T. C. Atmore 
procured it near Hopetown, and we have examined specimens 
procured in Little Namaqua Land by Mr. Andersson, who writes 
further concerning it:—“‘This is the commonest Sun-bird in 
Damara and Great Namaqua Land, where it is really abundant, 
especially towards the sea-coast. The scantier and more dreary the 
vegetation the more common is this bird; and though unattractive 
in dress, it helps to enliven the monotonous solitudes which it 
frequents, by its activity and pleasant subdued warbling chirp. 
The male assumes a somewhat more attractive garb during the 
