274 NECTAEINIID^ 



Ibis," "In habits this bird much resembles Nectarinia natalensis, 

 its food also being the same, viz., nectar and small insects 

 especially spiders. I believe it is only to be found during the 

 winter months in Natal." Mr. Barratt met with this Sugar- 

 bird in the Transvaal, between Pretoria and Lydenburg, in the 

 " zuikeibosch," or sugar-bush. 



Family X. NECTABINTID^l. 



Bill cylindrical, pointed, elongated and curved, or moderately 

 short and nearly straight, the edges of both mandibles finely serrated 

 for the terminal half or third (serrations not always visible to the 

 naked eye) ; tongue cylindrical, tubular, bifid, each half frayed 

 out ventrally, and protractile ; nostrils basal and protected by 

 membrane. Wing rounded, of ten primaries, the first short. Tail- 

 feathers twelve. Tarsus moderate, scutellated anteriorly. Plumage : 

 males, as a rule, with some part of their plumage with metallic 

 colouring, and often with bright pectoral tufts during the breeding 

 season ; in winter they resemble the females, who are of plain 

 colours (with some exceptions ) during the entire year ; the young 

 resemble the female ; a single moult in the year. 



Bill of Anthothreptes collaris (magnified) to show the serrations. 



The Sunbirds are distributed over the greater portion of the 

 Ethiopian, Oriental and Australasian Kegions. About one hundred 

 and twenty species have been described, including eighty that 

 inhabit Africa. Of these, sixteen species and subspecies occur 

 to the south of the Zambesi and Cune"ne Eivers. Sunbirds feed 

 largely on the nectar of various flowers but also on small insects. 

 They all build domed nests, frequently with a projecting portico 

 over the side entrance, and usually suspend them from the outer 

 twigs or leaves of bushes and trees. 



