17 



NECTAEINIA CUPKEONITENS. 



(ABYSSINIAN MALACHITE SUN-BIRD.) 



Nectarinia famosa, Eiipp. Neue Wirb. p. 90 (1835-40) ; id. Syst. Uebers. p. 28 (1845) ; 

 Heugl. Syst. Uebers. p. 20. no. 150 (1856); Brehm, Eeis. n. Habesch, p. 211. no. 42 

 (1863); Heugl. J. f. O. 1864, p. 261; id. Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 221 (1871). 



Souimanga a longue queue, Lefebvr. Voy. Abyss. Zool. p. 88 (1845-50). 



6 ad. similis N.famosce, sed corpore superiore et gula pectoreque vivide rufescenti-cupreo nitentibus : dorso et 

 tectricibus alarum minimis aurato cupreo lavatis. 



5 baud a fcemina N. famosa distinguenda. 



Hab. in Abyssinia et Senegambia. 



Adult Male. Similar in plumage to N. famosa, excepting tbat tbe head and neck are strongly washed with 

 reddish copper, and the back and lesser wing-coverts with golden copper ; the chin and throat are like- 

 wise strongly shaded with reddish copper, and the feathers on the front of the chest are partially shaded 

 with the same colour; irides dark brown; bill and legs black. Total length 7 - 9 inches, culmen 1-15, 

 wing 3 - l, tail 4'5, tarsus 065. 



Adult Female. " Oberseite, Kopf und Halsseiten olivenbraunlich ; Fliigel und Schwanz dunkler mit schwa- 

 chem griinlichen Metallscheine und fahlbraunlichen Saumen an der Aussenfahne ; Schwanzfedern 

 fahlweiss gespitzt, die ausserste an der Aussenfahne weiss ; Kinn, Kehle und Kropf olivenbraunlich, 

 schwachgelblich verwaschen; iibrige Unterseite blassolivengelb ; untere Schwanzdecken weisslich; 

 jederseits von der Basis des Unterschnabels ein verloschener blassgelblicher Strich herab. Schnabel 

 und Beine schwarz." — Finsch & Hartl. Vog. Ost-Afr. p. 213. 



Hab. North-east Africa and Senegambia. 



The above description of the adult male is taken from a specimen in the British Museum, and 

 formerly belonging to Mr. Sharpe. It may be readily recognized from the South-African Malachite 

 Sun-bird by the deep copper shades, which are most distinct on the head and neck. It is also 

 slightly smaller in size, a character which Von Heuglin has already remarked as distinguishing 

 the Abyssinian bird from the South-African N. famosa. The female does not appear to differ 

 in plumage from that of the South-African form ; and as I have not had the opportunity of 

 examining a specimen of that sex, I have quoted the description in full given by Drs. Finsch 

 and Hartlaub of a specimen in the Bremen Museum. 



This species ranges throughout the mountainous districts of Abyssinia, and has been 

 recorded from Bogos. Of its occurrence beyond these limits, we are informed by Drs. Finsch 

 and Hartlaub (Vog. Ost-Afr. p. 213) that there is an immature male specimen in the Bremen 

 Museum collected at Casamanze by Herr Schneider, which, if the locality be correct, I have no 

 doubt should be referred to the present species. 



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