104 CHALCOMITRA AMETHYSTINA. 



The Greater Amethyst Sunbird inhabits South Zambesia, 

 ranging south from the Limpopo, 22 s S. lat., and east from the 

 Swellendam district of Cape Colony, 22° E. long. 



According to Mr. Layard the species, although abundant 

 in the eastern provinces of Cape Colony, has never been seen 

 near Capetown. He received specimens from Swellendam 

 and considered it to be not very uncommon in the forest 

 districts. Mr. Atmore writes : " I have not seen this species 

 west of the Gouritz river ; on the other side they are plentiful, 

 especially when the 'Wild dagga ' is in flower." Mr. Atmore 

 also collected examples at Bland's Post and Grahamstown. 

 Levaillant discovered the type at the Gamtoos river. Mr. 

 Ricket found these Sunbirds near Port Elizabeth frequenting 

 the flowers of the aloes, but not in the same abundance here 

 as at East London during the flowering season of the Tecoma 

 or Cape Honeysuckle. At Kingwilliamstown it has been met 

 with by Lieut. Anstey. Mr. T. L. Ayres, who was living at 

 Pinetown when I visited Natal, informed me that these Sun- 

 birds remained there throughout the year, frequenting the 

 more bushy country. Captain Harford found them breeding 

 in November, and Messrs. Butler, Feilden and Reid remark : 

 " Not uncommon from Durban as far up country as Ladysmith; 

 at Colenso it was common in November, and at Durban in 

 August and December." In Zululand, the Messrs. "Woodwards 

 collected a series at Bschowe, and one full plumaged male in 

 June at Santa Lucia Lake, and write : " Is very partial to the 

 mistletoes and other flowering parasites that grow on the 

 mimosa-trees. It is of a very pugnacious disposition. We 

 have found several of their nests hanging from the low trees ; 

 these are domed and loosely put together, composed of grass, 

 dead leaves, and cobwebs; the eggs are yellowish white." 



From the Transvaal Mr. T. Ayres writes : " This Sunbird 

 is very plentiful in some localities, notably about ' Oliphants 



