102 CHALCOMITRA HUNTERI. 



According to Antinori it arrives in Bogos in May and 

 was most abundant at Keren from May to the end of July, 

 but Brehru met with specimens in the same country during 

 March and April. 



The males probably cast off their bright plumage about 

 October, to assume it again in February or March, as I find no 

 record of full plumaged males having been collected during the 

 winter months. 



The only character which Count Salvadori proposes for his 

 G. scioana is the appearance of a few metallic green feathers 

 on the base of the black throat. I am, however, convinced 

 that this is only an accidental occurrence, for I have seen 

 specimens in the British Museum procured by Blanford and 

 Jesse at Senafe, and again at Bogos by the same gentlemen, 

 and others by Mr. Esler. They were found in each instance 

 along with the true G. cruentata. 



Chalcomitra hunteri. 



Chalcomitra hunteri (Shelley), Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1895, p. 475 Somali ; 



Shelley. B. Afr. I. No. 51 (1896) ; Elliot, Field Colomb. Mus. Orn. I. 



No. 2 (1897) Somali. 

 Cinnyris hunteri, Shelley, P. Z. S. 1889, p. 365, pi. 41, fig. 2, Useri B; 



Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 592, Teita; Eeicheu. Vog. Deutsch. O. Afr. 



p. 210 (1894) ; Salvad. E. Acad. Torin. 1894, p. 556 Somali; Hawker, 



Ibis, 1899, p. 67 Somali; Hartert in Ansorge's "Under Afr. Sun," 



App. p. 351 (1899) Kinani and Tsavo B. 



Adult Male. Velvety brownish black, the anterior three quarters of the 

 crown metallic green, the hinder feathers glossed with violet ; least wing- 

 coverts, rump and upper tail-coverts metallic violet ; a metallic green 

 mustachial-band ; chin and upper throat black ; lower throat vermilion with 

 a few metallic violet bands to the feathers, most numerous towards its 

 junction with the black of the upper throat. Total length 5"6 inches, 

 culmeu 1-1, wing 2-85, tail 2-1, tarsus 07. Useri E. 7. 89 (H. C. V. 

 Hunter). 



Adult females and young males are similar to those of C. cruentata. 



