1882.] MR. R. TRIMEN ON A NEW SUN-BIRD. 451 



4. On an apparently undescribed Sun-Bird from Tropical 

 South-Western Africa. By Boland Trimen, F.L.S., 

 F.Z.S., &c.. Curator of tlie South-African Museum, 

 Cape Town. 



[Keceived May 10, 1882.] 

 (Plate XXXII.) 



Mr. Axel W. Eriksson, well known as in former years the com- 

 panion of the late Charles John Anderssou, and as an explorer of 

 Damara-land and the adjacent regions, has recently extended his 

 travels to the Cunene river and to the Portuguese Province of Mossa- 

 medes. Ill-health and the disturbed condition of parts of the country 

 which he traversed much interfered with his collecting efforts ; but 

 he succeeded in procuring a good many bird-skins, and, on a late 

 flying visit to Cape Town, with his wonted liberality presented a set 

 of tliem to the South-African Museum. 



In Damara-land he secured several examples of the rare Chatops 

 pycnopiigius (Sclat.) ; but most of his specimens were obtained from 

 Biballa and Sheila iu Mossamedes. These included Caprimulgus 

 fossii, Verr., Corythaix livingstonii, G. R. Gray, Ghlorocichla 

 occidentalis, Sharpe, Phyllostrephus fulviventris, Cab., and other 

 species of interest ; and among them was a Cinnyris which appears 

 to be new, and which I propose to name in honour of its discoverer, 

 who has for so many years rendered good service to African orni- 

 thology. 



Cinnyris erikssoni, sp. nov. (Plate XXXII.) 



S • Head, throat, entire back, and least and middle upper wing- 

 coverts bright metallic green, with blue-green and bronze reflections ; 

 upper tail-coverts metallic blue ; greater upper wing-coverts and quill- 

 feathers dusky brown, edged narrowly with pale brown ; tail darker, 

 glossy above, except the outermost feather on each side, which is pale 

 dull brown with a whitish external narrow edging. On the upper 

 breast a narrow metallic-blue collar separates the metallic green of 

 the throat from a very broad belt of scarlet reaching to the abdomen ; 

 pectoral tufts bright sulphur-yellow ; lower abdominal region, thighs, 

 and under tail-coverts pale cinereous. A black spot immediately 

 before the eye. Bill and legs black ; irides not noted. Total 

 length 4 in. 8 lin. ; length of culmen 8 lin., of folded wing 2 in. 

 6 lin., of tail 2 in., of tarsus 7\ Hu. (Three examples.) 



$ . All the upper surface cinereous brown, with a faint olivaceous 

 tinge, which becomes more apparent on upper tail-coverts ; quill- 

 feathers and greater upper coverts of wings dark brown, edged with 

 pale brownish ; tail darker, as iu c^. Under surface very pale 

 cinereous, indistinctly varied throughout with traces of pale yellowish, 

 more apparent on lower breast and abdomen ; pectoral tufts whitisli 

 yellow ; under wing-coverts and inner margins of quill-feathers 

 whitish. Total length 4 in. 6 lin. ; length of culmen 7| liii., of 



