NECTARINIID^] 



NECTABINIA 



275 



The eggs of the South African species are invariably two in 

 number and are usually much mottled and spotted with dark 

 colours. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Bill longer than the head and curved. 



"'. Male only with metallic plumage in the breed- 

 ing season. 



<("'. Tail square, but the two centre feathers pro- 

 longed in the male during the breeding 



season Nectarinia, p. 275. 



6 l . Male only with metallic plumage in the breed- 

 ing season (except in C. verreauxi, where 

 both sexes are alike partly metallic ; and in 

 C. olivaceus, where both male and female are 

 without metallic plumes). 



1-. Tail square, or nearly square, the two 

 centre feathers not prolonged in the 

 breeding male, or only slightly so, in C. 



nniriquensis Cinnyris, p. 278. 



<:'. Male only with metallic plumage. 



c 2 . Tail much graduated, wedge-shaped, less 



so in the female Anthoba/phes, p. 293. 



b. Bill shorter than the head and nearly straight. 

 d l . Both sexes with metallic plumage at all 



seasons. 



d 2 . Tail square, the centre feathers never pro- 

 longed Anthothrept&s, p. 296. 



Genus I. NECTARINIA. 



Nectarinia, Illiger, Prodr. p. 210 (1811) 



Type. 

 ,N. famosa. 



Bill longer than the head and much curved. Nostrils with an 

 operculum but without bristles ; tongue bifid and frayed out medio- 

 ventrally ; wing : first primary very small, the second long, the 

 wing-tip formed by the third, fourth and fifth ; tail square, but in 

 summer the two central feathers are considerably prolonged in the 

 male. Tarsus scutellated anteriorly ; hind toe short ; claws short, 

 curved and sharp. Plumage : the males in the breeding season 

 with very rich metallic plumage and with yellow pectoral tufts, at 

 other seasons like the females, which are dressed in very plain colours 

 at all seasons. 



