CINNYEIS OLIVACEITS. 



(SOUTH-AFRICAN OLIVE SUN-BIRD.) 



Cinnyris olivacea, Smith, 111. S. Afr. Zool. in text to pi. 57(1839); Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 407. 



no. 27 (1850). 

 Nectarinia olivacea, Jard. Monogr. Sun-birds, pp. 186, 253 (1843); Licht. Nomencl. p. 55 



(1854); Mull. J. f. O. 1855, p. 13. no. 140; Gurney, Ibis, 1864, p. 347; Layard, B. S. 



Afr. p. 78. no. 129 (1867); Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. 108. no. 1320 (1869); Finsch & Hartl. 



Vog. Ost-Afr. p. 225 (1870); Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. p. 38. no. 352 (1871); Shelley, Ibis, 



1875, p. 70. 

 Elceocerthia olivacea, Beichb. Handb. Scansoriee, p. 292. no. 683 (1854). 



cJ ad. supra ohvaceus, pileo et capitis lateribus saturatioribus, dorso postico et uropygio niagis flavicantibus : 

 remigibus rectricibusque saturate brunneis, flavicanti-olivaceo limbatis, his pallidius apicatis : subtiis 

 pallide flavicanti-olivaceus : fasciis pectoralibus lsete flavis : rostro et pedibus nigris : iride saturate 

 brunnea. 



$ ad. haud a mare distinguenda. 



Hab. in parte meridionali Afrieae australis. 



Adult Male. Upper parts olive, darkest on the crown and sides of the head, and slightly yellower towards 

 the upper tail-coverts ; wings and tail dark brown, the feathers edged with yellowish olive, the tail- 

 feathers with pale ends, most visible on the underside ; underparts pale yellowish olive ; pectoral tufts 

 bright yellow; bill and legs black; irides dark brown. Total length 5 - 5 inches, culmen 1 - 1, wing 2-7, 

 tail 2 - 5, tarsus 065. 



Adult Female. Similar in plumage to the male. Total length 5 inches, culmen l - 0, wing 2"4, tail 2"0, 

 tarsus 0"65. 



Hab. South-eastern Africa, from Kaffraria to Mosambique. 



The South-African Olive Sun-bird is one of the few examples of this genus which possess no 

 metallic plumes. It is very closely allied in this respect, as well as in its form and size, to 

 C. obscurus of the west coast, from which, however, it is to be distinguished by the deeper shade 

 of its colouring, and especially by the richer yellow of the pectoral tufts, which are present in 

 both sexes. 



It is a rare bird in collections, owing, no doubt, to its very limited distribution; for it is 

 only found in South-eastern Africa, ranging from Kaffraria (where it was first discovered by 

 Sir Andrew Smith) to South Mosambique, where it has been procured by Dr. Peters during his 

 voyage, as we are informed by Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub (Vog. Ost-Afr. p. 225). 



In Natal they frequent the coast region, probably on account of its being more wooded 



