ELjEOCERTHIA THOMENSTS. 119 



regard to G. gutturalis he writes : " After we obtained the 

 female, the male bird became very shy, only to appear now 

 and again above the high trees in the vicinity." 



The type of Cinnyris fischeri was procured at Mozambique 

 by the late Dr. Fischer, who also met with the species at 

 Pangani. Mr. Jackson collected two males in May on Manda 

 Island and one in Ukambani, which are the most northern 

 localities known to me for this species, but it is said to be 

 fairly plentiful in the acacia trees on Manda Island. 



Cinnyris fischeri, Reichen., if, as it should be, referred to the 

 specimens found from the Zambesi northward, may possibly be 

 recognised by the slightly whiter under surface, the more 

 constant bluer upper surface and small bill, but I have only 

 four examples to compare with a fairly good series of C. 

 verreauxi, Smith, from Natal. The Natal birds show that the 

 measurements vary considerably: culmen - 9 inch to 1:1, 

 wing 2*35 to 2 - 45, and the shade of the metallic colours in 

 Natal specimens from olive green to pale blue, so that the 

 only character for separating G. fischeri, Reichen., from G. 

 verreauxi, Smith, is the slightly paler shade of the under parts, 

 and this appears to me such a poor character that I have here 

 united the two forms as belonging to one species, believing 

 that the intermediate links will be found to occur in the little- 

 explored coast country between Zululand and the Zambesi. 

 A specimen from the Zambesi and one from Manda Island 

 have both: culmen # 9, wing 2*4 inches. 



Elseocertbia thomensis. (Pi. 5, fig. 2.) 



Elaeocerthia thomensis (Bocage), Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 60 (1896). 

 Nectarinia thornensis, Bocage, Jorn. Lisb. 1889, p. 143 St. Thomas Is. 



Adult Male. Black, with broad metallic bronze blue edges to the 

 feathers of the head, neck, back, lesser wing-coverts and breast ; tail much 

 graduated, with broad white ends to some of the outer feathers ; quills with 



