ANTHOTHREPTES AXILLARIS. 14.1 



new species is identical with Anthreptes fraseri, and does not 

 need comparison with any of the other species of the genus. 

 There is a possibility that idius may eventually turn out to be 

 merely a geographical race of fraseri, but until such shall be 

 proved to be the case it may stand as a species. The single 

 specimen procured by Mr. Currie is sexed male, and if this be 

 correct the absence of pectoral-tufts, notwithstanding the lack 

 of any other evidence, would seem to indicate immaturity ; for 

 it is quite probable, though of course not certain, that the 

 adult male would, like that of fraseri, possess these orna- 

 ments." With the following exceptions : " tail-feathers 

 greenish olive ; eye ring olive yellow ; feet olive green," the 

 description of A. idia agrees well in colouring and measure- 

 ments with the females and young males of Cinnyris cupreus. 



Anthothreptes axillaris. 



Camaroptera axillaris, Reichen. Orn. Monatsb. 1893, p. 32 Uvamba; id. 

 J. f. 0. 1894, p. 102, pi. 1, fig. 3; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 964 (1896). 



Very similar to A. fraseri but differs in having the upper half of the head 

 grey shading into white on the chin and throat. Axillary tufts vermilion, 

 but present only in adult males. Total length 5 inches, culmen - 65, wing 

 2-7, tail 1-8, tarsus 0-6. 



The Grey-crowned Scarlet-tufted Olive Sunbird inhabits 

 Central Africa. I believe this species to be known only by 

 the type, which was in the Emin and Stuhlmann's collection, 

 from Uvamba, and that the description and figure of the type 

 is all that has as yet appeared in print, but this was sufficient 

 to raise my suspicions that it was an Anthothreptes with the 

 cutting edges of the bill finely serrated, and not a Gamaroptera, 

 so I wrote to Dr. Reichenow who has kindly informed me that 

 its nearest ally is A. fraseri. 



