J96 AMETHYST-THROATED SUN-BIRD. 



coronal and gular patch ; before the first moult, or 

 in the nestling plumage, however, these are want- 

 ing. In the female, according to Le Vaillant, the 

 upper parts are of an olive-brown, the throat and 

 fore part of the neck black, and the remaining 

 under parts olive, spotted or broadly streaked with 

 deep brown. 



Le Vaillant first met with this bird in the country 

 of the Auteniquoi, afterwards on the river Gamtoos, 

 and considers that it remains in the southern part 

 of the continent during the whole year. Our own 

 specimens of the adult male, which have now been 

 used, were received from some part of Southern 

 Africa, though we do not know the exact locality. 

 Mr. Swainson has also admitted it into his Birds ot 

 Western Africa, so that we may consider its range 

 pretty extensive. Le Vaillant states that he found 

 the nest in thickest bushes, and in the holes in 

 trees ; the eggs being five in number, grey, spotted 

 with olive. 



