268 PROMEROPIDJE PROMEROPS 



latter was greenish-white, with a ring of blackish-brown specks 

 round the large end, and a few specks over the remainder of the 

 shell. It measured 0-68 x 0'53." 



Family IX. PEOMBEOPIDJB. 



The family Promeropidcz contains two species only of peculiar 

 Long-tailed Sugar-birds or Honey-suckers, whose range is con- 

 fined to South Africa. They were formerly placed among the 

 NectariniidcB or Sunbirds, or with the Meliphagidce or Australian 

 Honey-eaters ; but they differ from both these groups in several 

 important points of structure. The family contains a single genus. 



Genus I. PROMEROPS. 



Type. 



Promerops, Brisson, Ornith. ii, pi. 34 (1760) P. cafer. 



Bill slender, slightly curved, about twice as long as the head, 

 the culmen ridged, the edges of the mandibles smooth, not serrated 

 as in the Nectariniidce ; nostrils in a groove, longitudinal, opercu- 

 lated, uncovered by bristles or plumes. No rictal bristles. Tongue 

 extensile, semi-tubular, the dorso-lateral edges frayed out. Wing 

 short and rounded, with ten primaries ; the first about half as long 

 as the second, which is considerably shorter than the third; the 

 third, fourth, fifth and sixth about equal and longest ; the inner 

 webs of the second to the fifth broad and emarginate, especially 

 that of the fifth. Tail of twelve narrow feathers, very long and 

 much graduated. Tarsus moderately long, strong, scutellated 

 anteriorly, the sides covered by two plates ; toes long and strong, 

 especially the hinder; claws sharp and curved. Plumage non- 

 metallic; the feathers of the forehead narrow and shaft-like with 

 decomposed webs. Sexes alike, or nearly so, in colour, but the six 

 central tail-feathers of the male are longer during the breeding 

 season. Range confined to South Africa. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Forehead and crown buff-brown ; lower throat, upper 



breast and sides of neck rufous-brown P. cafer, p. 269 



b. Forehead and crown deep chestnut-red ; lower throat, 



upper breast and sides of neck paler chestnut-red P. gurneyi, 



p. 273 



