114 CHALC0M1TRA CASTANEIVENTRIS. 



Chalcomitra castaneiventris. 



Cinnyris castaneiventris, Madarasz, Ornis. 1889, p. 149, pi. 3 Yoruba. 



Adult Male. Similar to C. adelberti, but darker and duller, with no bright 

 chestnut on the back or breast. Total length 4-7 inches, euhnen 075, wing 

 2-4, tail 1-5, tarsus 0-55. Niger (Thomson, Brit. Mus.). 



The Niger Buff-throated Sunbircl inhabits the Niger district. 

 The type of the species was obtained in the Yoruba country 

 between Dahomey and the Niger, probably not one hundred 

 miles from Ebo, where Thomson procured an adult male which 

 is now in the British Museum. That the present form is en- 

 titled to be regarded as a distinct species from its northern ally 

 is proved by the Tring Museum having recently received a fine 

 series from Warri, which agree in all details with Thomson's 

 specimen from the Niger, and not with those from further north. 



Genus V. ELiEOCERTHIA. 



Form very similar to that of Cinnyris. Crown, hind neck, and mantle 

 glossed with metallic colours which are confined to the extreme ends only 

 of the feathers. 



Sexes often similar in plumage, in which case the bright pectoral-tufts 

 which are always present in the males are likewise present in the females. 

 Two out of the three species I refer to this genus have the tail square and 

 are confined to the African continent south of the Equator ; the third, E. 

 thomensis, has a graduated tail and inhabits the island of St. Thomas. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



a. Head, neck, and mantle very dark brown 



glossed with bronze. Abdomen white. 

 Pectoral-tufts orange fusca, $ . 



b. Upper parts olive, glossed with metallic green. 



No metallic gloss on the under parts, which 



are pale ashy. Pectoral-tufts scarlet. . . verreauxi, £ , £ . 



