hy Mr. Claude Grant in South Africa. 273 



it is probable that the adult stage is assumed in the spring 

 following the winter in which they are hatched. 



The Greater Double-collared Sun-bird was found in the 

 Knysna district, Zululand, the Eastern and North-Eastern 

 Transvaal, and was particularly plentiful in the two former 

 localities. It is found both in the forests and on the open 

 hill-sides, and feeds principally on the nectar of flowering 

 plants aud shrubs, especially Proteas and certain Aloes, in 

 common with most of the other Sun-birds, varying its diet 

 with small flies and insects, which also are taken from the 

 flowers. The flight is swift, and it will often hover to extract 

 the nectar from flowers. It is generally seen in pairs, thougli 

 often solitary ; the call is sharp and short, the males some- 

 times uttering a rather sweet warbling song from a twig or 

 the top of a bush. Except for its size, which is not always 

 striking, it cannot be distinguished from the two following 

 species. 



The soft parts are : — Irides dark hazel ; bill, legs and 

 toes black.] 



162. CiNNYRIS CHALYBEUS. 



CC. Klipfontein, May, June, July (7); Port NoUoth, 

 Aug. (1); slopes of Table Mt., Feb. (1); Durban Road, 

 Mch., Sept. (6). 



[The sequence of plumage in this species appears to follow 

 closely that of C. afer. The Lesser Double-collared Sun-bird 

 was noted only in Namaqualand and the Cape Peninsula, 

 in both of which localities it is very plentiful ; it was less 

 common in the Knysna district. In these localities it feeds 

 principally on the nectar of Proteas where they occur, 

 flowering heather, and climbing plants, and is commonly seen 

 around habitations taking nectar from the cultivated plants 

 growing in the gardens and on the walls and porches ; it is 

 so tame and fearless that it has often been known to nest 

 in the latter situations. In appearance and call it resembles 

 C. subalaris. 



The soft parts are : — Irides dark hazel ; bill, legs and., 

 toes black.] 



