276 NECTABINIID^ NECTAKINIA 



This genus is confined to Africa, one species only, out of the 

 nine described, being found to the south of the Zambesi. 



These Sunbirds frequent rather open localities where flowering 

 bushes, especially proteas, grow. They feed on saccharine juices 

 and insects, and build domed nests, with overhanging porticoes, 

 suspended from the tw 7 igs or leaves of bushes. Two elongated eggs, 

 much streaked and mottled with dark colours, are laid. 



Nectarinia famosa. 



157. Nectarinia famosa. Malachite. H 



Certhia famosa, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 187 (1766). 



Le sucrier malachite, Levaill. Ois. cTAfr. vi, p. 143, pis. 289, 290 (1808). 



Nectarinia famosa, Burchell, Trav. 8. Afr. i, p. 245 (1822) ; La//ard, 

 B. S. Afr. p. 77 (1867) ; Anderson's B. Damara Land, p. 68 (1872) ; 

 Shelley, Monogr. Cinnyridce, p. 13, pi. v. (1877) ; id. B. Afr. i, p. 2 

 (1896) ; Gadow, Cat. B. M. ix, p. 5 (1884) ; Holul and Pchdn, Orn, 

 Siidafr, p. 74 (1882); Sharpe, ed. La yard's B. S. Afr. pp. 306, 830 

 (1884). 



Description. Adult male in summer. Entire head, body, and 

 lesser and middle wing-coverts brilliant metallic malachite-green, 

 shot with gold on the head, neck, back and breast ; spot before eye, 

 greater wing-coverts and quills, under surface of wing, thighs, vent 

 and tail black ; the greater coverts, inner secondaries and tail- 

 feathers edged with metallic green. 



Iris dark brown ; bill, legs and feet black. 



Length 9-50 ; wing 3-00 ; tail (to end of two central feathers 

 which project 2-80 beyond the rest of tail) 5-00 ; tarsus O6o ; 

 culmen 1*25. 



Adult female. Above, pale earth -brown; wing - quills darker 

 brown, the secondaries edged with whitish ; tail - feathers dark 

 brown, the outer web of outermost white ; cheeks yellow ; below 

 pale brown, darker on the chest, sides and flanks, tinged throughout 

 with yellow ; vent and under tail-coverts whitish. 



