CINNYRIS HABESSINICUS. 47 



Total length 5 inches, culnien - 85, wing 2-5, tail 1-9, tarsus 065. Ailet 

 (Esler). 



Adult Female. Similar to C. splendidus ; but with the upper parts 

 ashy-brown, and the under parts whiter with no yellow shade on the 

 plumage. Total length 4>7 inches, culmen 0-8, wing 2-3, tail 1*7, tarsus 0'6. 

 Ailet (Esler). 



The Abyssinian Splendid Sunbird is confined to North-east 

 Africa ranging from Somaliland into Abyssinia and Kordofan. 

 In Somali it has been met with apparently by every ornitho- 

 logist who has visited that country. Mr. Lort Phillips writes : 

 " This is the common Sunbird of Northern Somaliland, and 

 is to be met with from the Maritime Plain to the top of the 

 Wagga Mountain, the highest peak of the Ooolis range, where 

 I found it breeding eai'ly in March. Its nest (see fig., p. 403) 

 is hung from the extreme end of a branch, and is composed 

 entirely of spiders' webs, decorated all over with minute 

 cocoons. A little ' penthouse ' projects over the entrance, 

 which must be a great protection from the rain in its exposed 

 position." 



In Shoa it is likewise a common bird, and specimens have 

 been collected there in full plumage from March to October. 



Mr. Blanford writes : "Very common," in Abyssinia, " near 

 the coast, and, up to 4,000 feet above the sea, in the passes 

 leading to the highlands. In January and February many 

 birds were in the plumage described by Rlippell as N. gularis. 

 Others, however, were in full plumage, and it is not clear 

 whether the gularis plumage is assumed by all males after the 

 breeding season, or whether it is only the livery of the first 

 year. I am strongly inclined to the latter opinion." 



Mr. A. J. Cholmley writes : " This was the only Sunbird 

 met with on the western coast of the Red Sea, and it was 

 common everywhere." Von Heuglin found the species dis- 

 tributed along the coast from Somaliland to Suakin, its most 

 northern known range. Antinori believed that it shifts its 

 quarters to the higher ground in July and August. 



