244 Letters, Announcements, 8^c. 



two eggs j and I believe that to be the orthodox number." These 

 are similar in colour (clouded grey-brown) and size to those of 

 the western species N. chalybea. 



131. Nectarinia fusca. This plain-coloured Sun-bird I 

 never saw till Mr. Ortlepp forwarded several individuals from 

 Colesberg. To the description in my 'Catalogue' must be 

 added that the sides of the throat, chest, belly, and under tail- 

 coverts are white, more or less pure, the inside of the wing black, 

 and the axillary tufts brilliant scarlet and orange. Length 5" ; 

 wing 2" 4'"; tail 1" 9'". "Nest domed, suspended, composed 

 of wool and fibres, and lined with feathers and goat's hair." 

 The eggs, three in number, are so unlike those of any Sun-bird 

 with which I am acquainted, that, had I not confidence in Mr. 

 Ortlepp's care and discrimination, coupled with his description 

 of the nest, I should have concluded they did not belong to this 

 species. They are white, spotted with intensely dark purple- 

 brown and pale purple spots, chiefly forming a close-set ring, 

 near the obtuse end. Axis 6|"' ; diam. 4|"'. 



144. Dictum rufescens. The discovery of the eggs of this 

 curious bird is owing to Mr. Jackson. They are white, spotted 

 and blotched with brown and faint purple, chiefly in the form 

 of a ring at the obtuse end. Axis 9 " ; diam. 6'". The nest is 

 usually concealed in the bottom of a bush. To the same 

 gentleman I also owe the eggs of 



160. Drym(ECa subruficapilla. They are white, faintly 

 tinged with green, and spotted with small red-brown and purplish 

 spots, chiefly at the obtuse end, in the form of a zone. Axis 7'" ; 

 diam. 5|"'. These differ from the usual type of Drymceca-eggs 

 in South Africa, wherein the ground-colour is usually a decided 

 blue or green, with large irregular blotches. 



165. Drym(eca THORACiCA. Lc VaiUaut statcs that the cggs 

 of this species are reddish-white ; my son has forwarded several 

 from Grootevadersbosch, near Swellendam, which are white, 

 spotted with various-sized dark brownish-red spots chiefly at the 

 obtuse end, and somewhat in the form of a ring. Axis 7|"' ,• 

 diam. 6". 



171. Drymceca brachyura. To my description of this 

 species must be added that the vent and belly are of a pale 



