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This form of Scarlet-chested Sun-bird is to some extent intermediate between C. gutturalis and 

 C. senegalensis, resembling as it does the former in the dark-brown colour of the wing and tail, 

 and in the metallic bars to the scarlet feathers being steel-blue only slightly glossed with green ; 

 but it differs from that bird and resembles C. senegalensis in the absence of metallic feathers on 

 the least wing-coverts, in the golden rather than emerald-green of the crown, and in its smaller 

 size. We have only seen one authentic specimen of the female ; in this bird the depth of the 

 colouring, especially of the under surface of the body, is a very well-marked character, readily 

 distinguishing it from the females of the other Scarlet-chested Sun-birds. 



Antinori enters this species in his catalogue of the birds collected by him in North-eastern 

 Africa as Nectarinia natalensis, and first describes it as a distinct species in a note attached to 

 Hartmann's translation of his catalogue (J. f. O. 1866, p. 205). 



According to Antinori it arrives in the Djur country (Upper-White-Nile district) from the 

 equator about the first week in February, when a few pairs may be seen around the sweet-scented 

 white flowers of the " babanus," or ebony of the Soudan. It also frequents other flowers, such 

 as varieties of Euphorbia and Cassia pendula. The natives call it "Acik," and look upon its 

 arrival as a good omen, fortelling the approach of the rainy season. The note, which it con- 

 stantly utters while on the wing, he compares to that of the Chaffinch. 



Antinori further states that after the 15th of April they all disappeared, but he was unable 

 to tell where they migrated to, as he did not again meet with them. This differs from Von 

 Heuglin's observations ; for that gentleman met with them in the same locality at all seasons 

 excepting during the months of July and August. He found them not uncommon in the country 

 of the Upper Gazelle River, at Bongo, Wau, and the Kasanga river, usually in pairs, frequenting 

 mostly the high trees. He received specimens of Sun-birds from the neighbourhood of Mount 

 Belenia, on the White Nile, above the Gazelle River, collected for him about the end of January 

 and beginning of February ; these he did not closely examine, but labelled them at the time 

 Nectarinia eruentata. He since believes that they probably belong to this species. 



The accompanying illustration, as well as the descriptions, are taken from the type specimens 

 in the Turin Museum. 



