mOMEROPIDJC. 89 



140. Nectarinia Platura. (Vieii.) jv r . 



Temm., PI. Col. 347 ; N. Cyanopygos, Licht. ; Jard. 

 Sunbirds, PI. 19 ; Le Sucrier Figuier, Le Vail., 

 PI. 293, Fig. 2. 



HEAD, neck, back, and wing-coverts, shining golden-green ; 

 rump violet ; wing and tail leathers black ; the centre pair 

 of the latter prolonged, and gilt with a reddish gold ; belly 

 and vent fine yellow. 



Le Variant says ho discovered this species only in the forests of 

 Great JN>.maqWand, feeding principally on an inodorous jasmine, 

 climbing over tke mimosa trees. Sundevall states it is only known. 

 from Western Africa. 



141. Noctarinia Melanura. (Sparm.) 



Carls., t. 5; Lesson, Vol. 2, p. 51; Certhia 

 nura, Lath. ; Anthornis Melanura. 



HEAD and back violet ; chest and belly inclined to green ; 

 -wing-coverts brown, aud bordered with olive ; tail black, 

 long, and forked. Length, 6" 2"'. 



This bird was first described by Sparmann as a native of the Cape of 

 Good Hope. It is, however, a New Zealand species ; not a Nectarinia, 

 but an Anthornis I ! 



The two next birds have also been wrongly described as native of 

 the Cape of Good Hope. 



142. Sitta OhloriS. (Sparm.) Lesson, Vol. 1, p. 

 361; Acanthositta Chloris, Gray; A. Tenuirostris, 

 Lafr. 



BODY, green above ; white below ; tail black, yellow on the 

 end ; a yellowish spot in the centre of the wing. 



Cape of GoodJIope, Lesson (loc. cit.) ; but a New Zealand species, 

 according to Sundevall. 



143. Sitta Caflta. (Sparm.) Lesson, Vol. 1, p. 

 361 ; Tatar e Olaitiensis. 



BODY above, variegated with yellow and black ; below yel- 

 low ; feet black ; claws yellow. 



Kaffraria : Lesson (loc. cit ) ; but a South Sea Island species, 

 according to Sundevall. 



Genus PIC^EUM, Cuvier. 



Bill short, curved, broad, and rather depressed at the base, 

 with the culmen curved to the tip, which is acute, and finely 

 serrated on the lateral margins ; the sides compressed, and 



