CINNYEIS OBSCUKUS. 



(BUFF-BREASTED OLIVE SUN-BIRD.) 



Nectarinia obscura, Jard. Monogr. Sun-birds, p. 253 (1842); Jard. & Selby, 111. Orn. 1842, 

 pi. 51 ; Jard. Contr. Orn. 1851 ; Hartl. J. f. O. 1854, p. 11, no. 112 ; Mull. J. f. O. 1855, 

 p. 16, no. 178 ; Hartl. Orn. W.-Afr. pp. 50, 271 (1857) ; id. J. f. O. 1861, p. 109 ; Gray, 

 Hand-1. B. i, p. 108, no. 1321 (1869); Sharpe, Ibis, 1870, p. 478; id. Cat. Afr. B. p. 38, 

 no. 353 (1871); Shelley & Buckley, Ibis, 1872, p. 287; Reichenow, J. f. O. 1875, p. 31; 

 Bouvier, Cat. Ois. Marche, p. 13 (1876). 



Cinnyris obscurus, Bp. Consp. Av. i, p. 407, no. 26 (1850). 



Adelina obscura, Bp. Comptes Rendus, 1854, p. 265. 



Elceocerthia obscura, Reichb. Handb. Scansorise, p. 293, no. 684, pi. 578, figs. 3935-36 

 (1854). 



Nectarinia fraseri, Dohrn, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 326. 



6 ad. supra olivascenti-virescens, pileo obscuriore, tectricibus alarum minimis dorso concoloribus : majoribus 

 remigibusque brunneis extus olivascenti-flavo limbatis : rectricibus brunneis, olivascenti-flavo mar- 

 ginatis et obscure pallidiore brunneo terminatis : facie laterali sordide olivaceo-viridi, regione parotica. 

 angustissime albido striolata : plaga anteoculari flavida : corpore subtiis pallide cineraceo, flavido 

 lavato, hypochondriis et subcaudalibus olivascenti-viridibus : fasciis pectoralibus lste flavis : sub- 

 alaribus albis : remigibus infra brunneis intiis albido marginatis : rostro et pedibus brunnescenti- 

 nigris, mandibula versus basin fulvescente : iride saturate brunnea. 



2 ad. mari similis. 



Juv. similis adultis^ sed fasciis pectoralibus nullis et corpore subtus flavo distinguendus. 



Hab. in Africa occidentali. 



Adult Female. Upper parts olive, darkest on the crown, and slightly yellower towards the upper tail-coverts ; 

 sides of the head more ashy olive, with small whitish centres to the feathers of the cheeks, ear-coverts, 

 and eyebrow; feathers in front of the eyes buff; wings and tail dark brown, each feather broadly 

 margined with olive, which is of a yellow shade on the quills and tail ; tail-feathers with pale ends, 

 most visible on the underside ; underparts buffish white, shaded with yellowish olive on the thighs, 

 sides of the abdomen, and on the under tail-coverts ; pectoral tufts bright sulphur-yellow ; under 

 surface of the wings dark brown, with the inner margins of the quills and the coverts white ; bill and 

 legs brownish black, the lower mandible fading into buff on the basal half; irides dark brown. Total 

 length 5 - 5 inches, culmen 0"9, wing 2 - 5, tail 2, tarsus - 65. 



Adult Male. Similar in plumage to the adult female. 



Immature bird. Differs only from the adult in the absence of pectoral tufts, in the yellower colour of the 

 underparts, especially of the lower throat. 



Hab. West Africa. 



2x 2 



