EL^OCERTHIA FUSCA. 115 



c. Tail strongly graduated. General plumage 



black, with metallic steel blue gloss. Under 



tail-coverts pale greenish yellow .... thomensis, $ , $ . 



d. Upper surface and sides of head earthy brown 



with a whitish eyebrow ; under surface 

 white shaded with ashy brown on the front 

 and sides of the body. Culrnen 0'7, wing 

 2*1, tail 1-7, tarsus 0'65 fusca, $ . 



Eleeocerthia fusca. 



Eleeocerthia fusca (Vieill.), Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 58 (1896). 

 Cinnyris fuscus, Shelley, Mon. Nect. p. 285, pi. 89 (1877) ; Sharpe, ed. 

 Layard's B. S. Afr. pp. 317, 832 (1884) ; Gadow, Cat. B. M. ix. p. 



75 (1884). 



Adult Male. Head, neck, breast, back and lesser wing-coverts brownish 

 black with metallic violet, green, or coppery bronze edges to the feathers ; 

 wing and tail blackish ; pectoral-tufts bright orange ; abdomen and under 

 tail-coverts white. Total length 4'4 inches, culmen - 85, wing 2-3, tail 

 l - 65, tarsus 07. Damara (Andersson). 



Adult Female. Upper surface and sides of head light brown, with a 

 pale eyebrow ; wings and tail darker brown, the outer feathers of the latter 

 edged with white. Beneath, ashy white. Total length 4 - 3 inches, culmen 

 0-7, wing 2-1, tail 1-7, tarsus 065. 



The White-vented Black Simbird inhabits the western 

 portion of South Africa, south of 20° S. lat. and west of 

 25° E. long. 



This species was discovered by Levaillant in Great 

 Namaqualand, and Mr. Chapman calls it the common species 

 of Sunbird in that country and Damaraland, remaining there 

 throughout the year. Mr. Andersson found it especially 

 abundant towards the sea coast and observes : " The scantier 

 and more dreary the vegetation the more common is this bird, 

 and though unattractive in dress, it helps to enliven the 

 monotonous solitudes which it frequents by its activity and 

 pleasant, subdued warbling chirp. The male assumes a some- 

 what more attractive garb during the breeding season than 



