

CINNYRIS TALATALA. 



(SOUTH-AFRICAN WHITE-BREASTED SUN-BIRD.) 



Nectarinia talatala, Smith, App. Rep. Exp. S. Afr. p. 58 (1836) ; Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. p. 40. 



no. 375 (1871); Buckley, Ibis, 1874, p. 375; Sharpe, ed. Layard's B. of S. Afr. pi. 7 



(1876). 

 Nectarinia anderssoni, Strickl. & Sclat. Contr. Orn. 1852, p. 153 ; Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. 106. 



no. 1285 (1869). 

 Cinnyricincla anderssonii, Reichb. Handb. Scansoriee, p. 307. no. 720 (1854). 

 Nectarinia, sp.], Bocage, Jorn. Lisb. i. p. 332. no. 12 (1867). 

 Oinnyris talatala, Layard, Ibis, 1868, p. 270; id. Ibis, 1869, p. 78; Gurney, in Anderss. B. 



Dam. Ld. p. 72 (1872); id. Ibis, 1873, p. 255. 



6 ad. supra metallice viridis, tectricibus alarum minimis et medianis dorso concoloribus : fronte et supraeau- 

 dalibus chalybeo nitentibus : tectricibus majoribus et remigibus saturate brunneis, pallide brunneo 

 anguste marginatis : cauda indigotico-nigra, rectricibus metallice viridi seu violaceo marginatis : subtus 

 albus, mento gulaque chalybeis, medialiter viridi nitentibus : torque angusto jugulari violaceo : pectoris 

 summi lateribus nigricantibus : fasciis pectoralibus lsete flavis. 



2 ad. supra pallide brunnea : alis saturate brunneis, pallidius marginatis : cauda brunnesc'enti-nigra, rectrici- 

 bus exterioribus dilutiiis limbatis et albido terminatis : subtus albescens. 



Hab. in Africa meridionali. 



Adult Male. Upper parts metallic green, as also the entire head and neck, least and median series of wing- 

 coverts, shaded -with steel-blue on the forehead and upper tail-coverts, and more slightly so on some 

 of the lesser wing-coverts ; quills and greater coverts dark brown, the feathers narrowly edged with 

 pale brown; tail blue-black, the feathers partially edged with dark metallic green and violet; under- 

 parts white ; chin steel-blue, gradually changing into deep metallic green on the middle of the throat, 

 which colour again merges into steel-blue and rich metallic violet towards the base of the throat, and is 

 edged by a partial black collar, broadest at the sides ; axillary tufts uniform pale sulphur-yellow ; under 

 wing-coverts and inner margins of the quills pale ashy brown ; bill and legs black ; irides dark brown. 

 Total length 4-4 inches, culmen 0-8, wing 23, tail 1-8, tarsus 065. 



Adult Female. Upper parts, as well as the sides of the head, uniform pale brown ; a scarcely perceptible pale 

 eyebrow; wings dark brown, the feathers edged with pale brown; tail brownish black, the outer 

 feathers with nearly white tips and pale brown edges ; underparts white, faintly tinted with ashy brown 

 on the chin and throat ; bill and legs black ; irides dark brown. Total length 4'15 inches, culmen 075, 

 wing 21, tail l - 5, tarsus - 65. 



Hab. South Africa, north of 28° S. lat. 



The present species belongs to the white-breasted section of the "pale metallic" group, and is 

 distinguished from all the other members of the genus Cinnyris by its pure white breast and 



I 



