152 



THE COLLARED SUN-BIRD. 



plumage, the general color being olive, with a slight mark of pale scarlet upon the back. The 

 crimson patch on the breast vanishes, and the tail-feathers are all of equal length. The female 

 is olive-green above and greenish-yellow below, and there is a slight mark of red upon the base 

 of the tail. 



The Collared Sun-bird is an inhabitant of many parts of Africa, stretching from the 

 northern portions of that continent as far as the western coasts. It is extremely plentiful in 

 the larger forests of the Cape and the interior, but there is very little information concernino- 



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COLLARED SUN-BmD.— JTectertnia chalybea. 



its habits, saving that they resemble those of its relations. Tlie nidification of this species 

 differs according to the locality, for it places its nest in the interior of hollow trees wherein it 

 resides in the forests, and is content with the shelter of a thick bough when there are no decay- 

 ing trees within reach. 



The male Collared Sun-bird is a most beautiful little creature, bedecked vdth glowing 

 tints of wonderful intensity. The general color of the upper parts of the body and breast is a 

 rich golden-green, tlie u]:)per surface of the wings and tail being blackish-brown with green 

 reflections. Across the breast are drawn several colored bands, which have earned for the 

 bird its popular and expressive name, as aU names should be. A narrow band of bright steel- 

 blue runs across the upper i:)art of the breast, being rather wide in the centre and narrowing 

 rapidly towaivls the sides of the neck. Below this blue band runs a broad belt of rich car- 

 mine, and immediately below the carmine is a third narrow band of bright golden-yellow. 

 From the sides of the breast proceed several small feathery jjlumes of the same golden hue. 

 The remainder of tlie abdomen is grayish -l)ro\\'n, and the upper tail-coverts are violet-purple. 



The female is rather less in dimensions than her mate, and is very sober in her attire, 

 wearing a suit o-f uniform olive-brown, darker upon the wings and tail, and very pale behind, 

 The total length of this species is rather more than four and a half inches. 



