ib 



notes of that undaunted traveller and accurate observer: — "This splendid species is exceedingly 

 abundant in Little Namaqua Land, and also occurs, though but rarely, in the southernmost parts 

 of Great Namaqua Land. It is usually found permanently established where it has once taken 

 up its abode. Its food consists of insects and the saccharine juice of flowers, in search of which 

 its flits incessantly from one flowering tree or plant to another, now settling and now hovering, 

 but glittering all the while in the sunshine like some brilliant insect or some precious gem. The 

 male, in addition to the beauty of its plumage, possesses a very pleasant warble." 



Mr. Burchell, during his travels in the interior of South Africa, found, when he was at 

 lioggeveld on the 1st of August, 1811, "a beautiful Green Sugar-bird (Nectarinia famosa) 

 frequenting the thorn trees, and in splendid plumage, surpassing all the other birds of the 

 place." 



Beyond Cape colony, to the eastward, it becomes a much scarcer bird. A few specimens 

 have been sent me by Mr. T. L. Ayres from Pinetown, in the neighbourhood of Durban, where 

 it appears to be only migratory, not remaining in that part of the country during our winter 

 months ; and I did not meet with it there during February or March. 



In 'The Ibis' for 18G8 and 1871 are published the following notes made by Mr. Ayres 

 in Natal : — " This bird is found more in the inland part of the colony, frequenting the open 

 country, feeding upon the nectar of the various kinds of aloes abounding in some localities, and 

 also on that of some species of lilies which are numerous in many of the valleys. When 

 disturbed they generally fly right away, unless their attention is attracted by some flower or 

 by others of their own species." 



He also writes, "These birds are exceedingly scarce about Potchefstroom ; but a few of 

 them frequent the neighbouring hills and open country." 



Mr. T. E. Buckley met with this species on the Drakenberg on the 19th of December, 1873, 

 and observes : — "Only seen in this one place, but most likely only a summer visitant. About here 

 I found several pairs living amongst the thick patches of bushes along the small streams that run 

 down the side of the Drakenberg. They were restless, but not at all shy." Although he passed 

 a whole year in the Matabili country, he did not meet with it again. In the Macamac district 

 and at Lydenberg it has been collected by Mr. Barratt. 



In the Zambesi district it appears to be very scarce ; for Dr. Kirk tells us (Ibis, 1864, p. 320), 

 " I have seen this bird but once, in a thick clump of trees near the river Shire during the rainy 

 season. It is a rare bird in the region." 



On comparing Natal specimens with those from Cape colony and Namaqua Land, the former 

 are almost invariably brighter, slightly larger, and with longer centre tail-feathers, but are not 

 specifically distinct. 



In Abyssinia there is the closely allied form {N. cujpreonitens) which has been generally 

 confounded with the South- African bird. 



Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub, in their work on the birds of East Africa, describe the adult 

 and young male from Cape specimens, and the female from an Abyssinian one. They mention a 

 young male specimen, in the Bremen Museum, from Casamanse, in Senegal ; should the locality 

 attached to this specimen be correct (which I am inclined to doubt), it must be an example of 

 X. cupreonitcns. 



