171 



Ki 



" Mr. Rickard informs us that it is not very common at Port Elizabeth, where it frequents 

 the aloes when in flower ; at East London, however, he says it is very abundant on the Tecoma 

 (Cape Honeysuckle)." 



Levaillant found this species plentiful along the Gamtoos river during the dry season ; 

 Mr. Atmore has collected specimens at Eland's Post and Graham's Town ; and Lieut. Anstey 

 at King William's Town. 



It is abundant in Natal and the Transvaal, and is also, according to Mr. T. E. Buckley, 

 common in Swazi Land, but does not cross the Limpopo into Matabili. In Natal, near the coast, 

 Mr. T. L Ayres has collected it for me at Pinetown, and writes: — "These Sun-birds remain in 

 the bushy country about Pinetown throughout the year, and are generally met with in pairs. 

 In winter, when they are out of plumage, they congregate to feed from the red flowers of one of 

 the common shrubs, and pick up spiders &c." 



Mr. Barratt writes : — " I shot one or two near Rustenburg, and observed it more than once 

 during my journey through the bush between Potchefstroom and Rustenburg. I also saw a few 

 in the bush near Pretoria ; and I have killed it in British Kaflraria, near East London, in company 

 with N. chalybea; it is, however, much more shy in its habits than the latter bird." 



Mr. T. Ayres records it from the Lydenburg district, and informs us that the nest is similar 

 in structure to that of C. gutturalis, but is not hung over water as is generally the case with the 

 nest of the latter species. Mr. Atmore found a nest at Oudtshoorn, on the 24th of January, 

 " hanging on a branch of an apple-tree, very rough outside, composed of short bits of stick, 

 grass, and spider's web — arched, as are the nests of all the tribe. The number of eggs appear to 

 be two, as we did not take these till they were incubated ; before they were blown they were of 

 a soft creamy-yellow colour. I have not seen this species west of the Gouritz river; on the 

 other side they are plentiful, especially when the ' wilde dagga ' is in flower." 



According to Mr. Layard, the eggs sent to him by Mr. Atmore were of a beautiful creamy 

 grey, with indistinct, confused blotches, spots, and streaks, chiefly at the obtuse end : axis 9", 

 diam. 6". 



The male in assuming the full breeding-plumage first puts on the metallic lilac feathers on 

 the throat ; in the next stage they generally become mottled all over with black feathers, while 

 the metallic-green crown gradually appears ; but in one specimen we find the metallic crown 

 almost perfect before any of the black feathers have appeared. The metallic-lilac upper tail- 

 coverts are acquired when the bird has assumed about three quarters of the black plumage, and 

 the metallic feathers on the bend of the wing only when the remainder of the full dress is 

 almost complete. 



The adult male and female here figured and described, and the male in nearly full moult, 

 were collected for me by Mr. T. L. Ayres at Pinetown, and are still in my possession. 



2p2 



