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CINNYRIS COQUERELI. 



(MAYOTTE SUN-BIRD.) 



Nectarinia coQuerellii, Verr. J. f. O. 1860, p. 90 ; Hard. Faun. Madag. p. 34 (1861) ; Gray, 

 Hand-1. B. i, p. 107, no. 130 (1869); Hartl. Vog. Madag. p. 92 (1877). 



Nectarinia coquereli, Schl. P. Z. S. 1866, p. 421 ; Schl. & Van Dam, Faun. Mad. p. 71, 

 pi. 18, fig. 1 (1868); E. Newton, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 302. 



<S ad. supra metallice viridis vix bronzino nitens, tectricibus alarum minimis et medianis dorso coucoloribus : 

 ala reliqua saturate brunnea, plumis anguste viridi limbatis : supracaudalibus lsetioribus viridibus : 

 rectricibus indigotico-nigris, extus metallice viridibus : facie laterali et gutture toto metallice viridibus : 

 corpore reliquo subtiis lsete flavo, hypochondriis imis vix olivaceo lavatis : tibiis nigricantibus : sub- 

 caudalibus albidis flavo lavatis : fascia pectorali mediana miniata : subalaribus albis flavo lavatis : 

 remigibus brunneis, intus pallidius marginatis : rostro et pedibus nigris : iride saturate brunnea. 



Hab. iu insula Comorensi " Mayotte " dicta. 



Adult Male. Upper parts deep metallic bronzy green ; least and median series of wing-coverts of the same 

 colour; remainder of the wings dark brown; tail bluish black, with narrow metallic-green edges to 

 the feathers ; sides of the head, chin, and throat deep metallic green like the back ; at the base of the 

 metallic throat a very few black feathers ; breast bright yellow, with a scarlet patch down the centre 

 of the chest and fading into buff on the under tail-coverts, which have dark triangular centres ; thighs 

 mottled with dark brown ; under surface of the wings dark brown with pale inner margins to the quills; 

 and with the coverts white ; bill and legs black ; irides dark brown. Total length 3 - 8 inches, culmen 

 0-75, wing T95, tail 1-4, tarsus 0'6. 



Hab. Island of Mayotte, one of the Comoro group. 



This pretty and well-marked species is confined to the island of Mayotte, one of the Comoro 

 group, situated between Africa and the northern portion of Madagascar. Here it was first 

 discovered by Dr. Coquerel, and was named after that gentleman by M. J. Verreaux in 1860. 



It belongs to the yellow-breasted division of my " pale metallic " group, but is not very 

 nearly allied in its colouring to any of the other forms which constitute this group, and may 

 be readily recognized by the broad scarlet patch down the centre of the chest, as well as by the 

 entire head and throat being uniform green. 



The following notes I take from Pollen and Van Dam : — It loves to flit around the mimosa 

 and other trees of the acacia family, and may occasionally be observed on the fronds of the 

 cocoanut-trees in search of its food, which consists, like that of the other Sun-birds, principally 

 of honey, in search of which it will occasionally entirely hide itself in the chalice of the large 

 flowers. It is continually on the move, beating its wings like a butterfly, and uttering its song, 

 which reminds one of that of the Blue Tit, although more feeble. It is often seen in company 



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