78 CJXNYRIS CHALYBEUS. 



trees and shrubs ; they are also found in winter, but not 

 commonly." On his journey with Mr. Jameson, they collected 

 specimens at Rustenburg in May and at the Umvuli river, in 

 Matabele, in September. At the latter place they were scarce, 

 and had probably just arrived, for none were seen in August. 

 Mr. Barratt procured this species at Macomac, Lydenberg, 

 Pretoria, Bloemfontein and in British Kaffraria where they 

 were very abundant. 



I do not find any reference to this bird having been met 

 with so far north as the Zambesi river ; but in Mashonaland 

 Mr. Guy Marshall informs me : " This is the commonest of 

 our Sunbirds ; like the others it is most abundant towards 

 the close of the dry season, when the yet leafless Kaferbooms 

 (Erythrina) are ablaze with their scarlet flowers, which seem 

 to afford a special attraction to these birds. It is a familiar 

 and fearless little bird, and is capable of singing very sweetly. 

 The nests, although often suspended, are more often supported 

 by twigs." 



"With regard to its habits, Mr. Layard writes : " It is one 

 of the boldest and most familiar of all our Sunbirds, frequent- 

 ing the flower-gardens in the midst of Cape Town, and even 

 venturing into open windows to visit potted plants. Nests, 

 reported to be of this species, have been brought to me, 

 pendent, domed, and porticoed structures, like those of others 

 of the family that I have seen. Eggs minutely mottled 

 greyish brown ; " 065 by 05 inches. " I can confirm the 

 statements of my correspondents, having myself taken nests 

 of this species containing eggs and young birds. They are 

 not, however, always pendent, being sometimes supported by 

 twigs, interwoven with the structure. They are composed of 

 cobwebs, stuck over with bits of dead leaves or chips of bark, 

 and always placed on the outside of a bush, never among the 

 branches. I have, however, seen one placed on the side of a 



