NECTARINIID2E CINNYRIS 291 



where, according to Andersson, it is especially numerous near the 

 coast. 



Habits. This sombrely coloured and unobtrusive Sunbird often 

 frequents very desolate localities, such as sand-dunes on the coast, on 

 which a scanty growth of scrubby bushes contrives to exist, or the 

 scarcely more attractive desert karoos further inland. 



In summer the bright orange breast -tufts of the male frequently 

 attract attention, or, sometimes his subdued but pleasant song, 

 while the very plainly dressed female generally escapes notice 

 altogether. This species appears to be more insectivorous in its 

 diet than are the majority of Sunbirds, but it feeds at times on the 

 saccharine juices of flowers. The rather small nest is hung from 

 the outer twigs of a bush ; it is oval and domed, constructed of fine 

 dry grass, soft fibres of bark, wool and cobwebs, lined with feathers 

 and hair. 



The eggs, two, and, according to Ortlepp, sometimes three in 

 number, are white, spotted and mottled with dark and light 

 purplish-brown. 



They measure 0.65 x 0-42. 



168. Cinnyris verreauxi. Mouse- coloured Sunbird. 



Cinnyris verroxii, Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. 1831, p. 13; id. III. 



Zool. S. Afr. Birds, pi. 57 (1839). 

 Nectarinia verroxii, Jardine, Monogr. Sunbirds, pp. 185, 253, pi. 9 



(1843) ; Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 76 (1867). 

 Cinnyris verreauxi, Bp. Consp. Av. i, p. 407 (1850) ; Shelley, Monogr. 



Cinnyridce, p. 287, pi. 30 (1877) ; Gadow, Cat. B. M. ix, p. 74 (1884) ; 



Sharpe, ed. Layards B. S. Afr. p. 309 (1884). 

 Elaeocerthia verreauxi, Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 5 (1886). 



Description. Adult male. Above, upper surface of body as 

 well as the middle wing-coverts, metallic-green, the bases of the 

 feathers olive-brown ; greater wing-coverts and quills dark brown 

 with paler edges ; tail-feathers black edged with brown ; crown like 

 the back ; a black spot before the eye ; ear-coverts dusky ; below, 

 pale ash-brown ; pectoral tufts bright scarlet ; under wing-coverts 

 white tinged with olive. 



Iris dark brown ; bill, legs and feet black. 



Length 5-25; wing 2-45 ; tail 2-00; tarsus 0-70 ; culmen 0-90. 



Adult female. Similar to the male in plumage. 



Distribution. South-eastern Cape Colony, Natal and Zululand. 



Habits. This Sunbird is found most abundantly in the thick 



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