150 ANTHOTHREPTES COLLARTS. 



Dr. Edwin Atkerstone from the mouth of the Kleinemont 

 river (eight miles distant from the Kowie), where he shot 

 three individuals ; it has also been found near Grahamstown, 

 and Mr. Rickard records it from Port Elizabeth." Captain 

 Trevelyan procured the species at Kingwilliamstown. 



In Natal, according to Mr. T. Ayres, " these birds are 

 decidedly scarce, though found throughout Natal." I found 

 them fairly abundant in March near Durban, and Captain 

 Reid obtained specimens in the bush near the mouth of the 

 Urngfeni river in December. In Zululand the Messrs. Wood- 

 ward collected three specimens at Eschowe. 



All I can find regarding the occurrence of this species in 

 the Transvaal is that Mr. T. Ayres procured an adult female 

 in July and writes : " I met with a few of these tiny Sun- 

 birds in the dense bush along the Mashupan, where they find 

 flowering creepers to their taste." The occurrence of this 

 species further north yet requires confirmation. 



With regard to the habits of the species : during my short 

 stay at Durban I frequently met with these birds in pairs or 

 small parties among the low thick bushes, busily searching for 

 insects between the twigs and leaves, and not, like most 

 other Sunbirds, only frequenting the flowering plants for food. 

 In their movements they reminded me of our Willow-warblers, 

 as they climbed and hopped among the boughs ; but as they 

 flitted round the mimosa bushes or tangled creepers they 

 dispelled this illusion by displaying, to the greatest advantage, 

 their brilliant metallic colours. Mr. T. Ayres remarks : 

 " They build a penduline nest, generally in some thick bush, 

 hanging it from the leaves and outermost twigs. They are 

 very fond of building in orange-trees and others of equally 

 dense foliage." At Durban, March 28th, a portion of a 

 nest of this Sunbird was brought to me ; it was composed of 

 fine grass, thickly lined with feathers and horsehair, and con- 



