ANTHOTHREPTES COLLARIS. 149 



Anthothreptes collaris. 



Anthothreptes collaris (Vieill.), Gadow, Cat. B. M. ix. p. 116 (1884, 

 pt. A., S. Afr.) Gamtoos E., Buffalo B., Grahamstown, Uiten- 

 hage, KingwilUamstown, Natal; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 77 (1896). 



Anthodiaeta collaris, Shelley, Mori. Nect. p. 339, pi. 110 (1876) ; Sharpe 

 ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. p. 320 (1876) ; Ayres, Ibis, 1887, p. 56 

 Transvaal ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1897, p. 507 Ztduland. 



Anthreptes collaris, Shelley, Mon. Nect. p. slviii. (1880); Butler, Feilden 

 and Eeid, Zool. 1882, p. 247 Natal. 



Adult Male. Head, neck, back and lesser wing-coverts metallic golden 

 green ; wings and tail dark brown, most of the feathers edged with metallic 

 golden green. Beneath yellow, that colour separated from the green 

 throat by a narrow collar of metallic violet. Total length 3'8 inches, 

 culmen 0-5, wing 2-1, tail 1-5, tarsus 065. Durban, 11. 4. 74 (Shelley). 



Adult Female. Similar to the male, only with the entire throat yellow 

 like the breast. Total length 36 inches, culmen 0'5, wing 1-9, tail T5, 

 tarsus 0-6. Durban (Gordge). 



Nestling. Similar to the adult female, with the same parts metallic 

 green. Durban, 28. 3. 74 (Shelley). 



The Southern Collared- Simbird inhabits South Zambesia 

 to as far west as the G-amtoos river in about 24" B. long. ; 

 but in Tropical South Africa is known to me only by a 

 specimen in the British Museum labelled " Zambesi (Meller)." 



With regard to the species in Cape Colony Mr. Layard 

 writes : " Entirely a bird of the Eastern districts, not 

 approaching nearer than the province of TJitenhage, whence 

 we have received specimens. Le Vaillant states that he 

 procured it near the Gamtoos river, and although M. Atmore, 

 who knows this locality thoroughly, informs us that he has 

 never come across it, it is possible that the above-named 

 river forms the western boundary of its range. The reported 

 abundance of the species, of which Le Vaillant speaks, may 

 well be doubted after Mr. Atmore's evidence. Mrs. Barber 

 forwarded specimens to us from the 'New Year's River,' and 



