J 94 



short distance nothing but a little black object is to be recognized ; but being frequently on the 

 move, the eye soon catches the flashes of bright metallic colours, which vary with every beat of 

 the wing. When perched, if attracted by an insect passing overhead, it will rise and capture it 

 in the air after the manner of Flycatchers ; but more frequently it may be seen to drop from its 

 bough and rapidly dart, low over the surface of the ground, in pursuit of another male of its 

 own species, or on a visit to some ground-orchid whose bright red flowers have attracted its 

 attention. 



One morning at Cape-coast Castle, while the dew-drops still glistened in the valley under 

 the morning sun, I watched for some time two males chasing each other up and down amongst 

 the low and somewhat scattered bushes, crying at intervals in their excitement as they rapidly 

 turned round the edges of the bushes in hot and angry pursuit. Their bright colour glittered in 

 the sun and enlivened the quiet harmony of the bush, which was otherwise only broken by the 

 occasional silver bell-like note of Dn/oscoj)Us major echoed back by its mate from the depths of 

 the surrounding forest, or by the peculiar gradually descending notes of Centropus senegalensis. 

 I was much amused to see one of the stately Cuckoos, disturbed by the near approach of the 

 frolicsome little Sun-birds, leisurely quit the higher branch where it had been singing, and seek 

 retirement in the denser shade of the bush. 



I cannot remember ever seeing more than two males together, probably both striving for the 

 affections of the same female ; and as the latter appear by far the least numerous, the males pro- 

 bably fight hard and constantly during the breeding-season ; for on all occasions when I have met 

 them together they appeared to be most quarrelsome. 



The nest has been described by Dr. Eeichenow (J. f. O. 1875, p. 30). It is oval in form, is 

 suspended from the end of a bough, and is constructed of dry grass and fine roots carefully inter- 

 woven together. The inside is lined with the seed-down of plants. It contained two shining 

 brown eggs. 



The above descriptions, as well as the illustration, are taken from specimens collected by 

 myself on the Gold Coast. 



