CHALCOMITRA ADELBERTI. 113 



by a black collar which shades off into the rich chestnut of the remainder 

 of the body. Total length 4 inches, culmen 07, wing 2-3, tail 1-5, 

 tarsus 0-55. Abouri, 23. 2. 72 (Shelley). 



Adult Female. Above, olive ; wings and tail dark bronzy brown ; beneath, 

 buff shaded with olive on the lower throat and flanks, and partially striped 

 with the indistinct olive brown centres of the feathers. Total length 4 inches, 

 culmen 0-7, wing 2-25, tail 1-4, tarsus 0-55. Abouri, 23. 2. 72 (Shelley). 



The Senegal Buff-throated Sunbird is confined to the 

 northern half of the West African Subregion, where it ranges 

 from Senegambia to the Gold Coast. 



The type of the species was procured by Adelbert in 

 Senegambia. Mr. Biittikofer collected three specimens in 

 Liberia, near the Junk river. The species appear to be rare 

 everywhere excepting in the forest region of the Gold Coast. 

 Here Mr. Blissett found it at Elmina, and in the British 

 Museum there is a specimen from " Ashantee." According 

 to the late Governor Ussher : " This pi^etty Sunbird is not 

 very common in Fantee, except at certain seasons of the year, 

 when it frequents the large flowering-trees of the forest in 

 company with many other species." I presume the " certain 

 season" alluded to is the early springtime, for in February 

 and March, while I was on the Gold Coast with Mr. T. B. 

 Buckley, we found them plentiful in the wooded districts 

 around the blossoms of the gigantic flowering forest trees at 

 Abrobonko near Cape Coast Castle, and at Abouri in the 

 Aguapim mountains, and they were at that season passing by 

 a complete moult into the breeding dress, which none of 

 the many specimens I saw had entirely assumed, there being 

 always an odd feather or more of the winter plumage still to 

 be shed. Drs. Reichenow and Luhder who visited Abouri in 

 the autumn only met with a single specimen in that locality. 

 In the neighbouring Togoland Dr. Biittner procured this 

 species at Misahohe in March, September and October. 



[November, 1899. 8 



