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PEOMEEOPS GUENEYI. 



(GURNEY'S LONG-TAILED SUN-BIRD.) 



Promerops cafer, Gurney, Ibis, 1862, p. 27 (nee Linn.). 



Promerops gumeyi, J. Verr. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 135, pi. 8; Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. p. 37(1871); 

 Barratt, Ibis, 1876, p. 202. 



J ad. similis P. cafero, sed cauda breviore et prsecipue fronte vertice et praepectore castaneo-rufis distinguendus. 



- Hab. in parte orientali Africa? australis. 



Adult. Very similar to P. cafer, and differing only in the forehead, crown, lower portion of the throat, and 

 front of the breast being chestnut, and in having no moustachial streak ; bill and legs black ; irides dark 

 brown. Total length lOl inches, culmen 1*1, wing 3'75, tail 6 - 6, tarsus 09. 



Hab. South-eastern Africa, Natal and the Eastern Transvaal district. 



Obs. The sexes are similar in plumage. The description is taken from a specimen in the British Museum 

 collected by Mr. Barratt at Lydenburg ; and the figure is drawn from one also procured by that gentle- 

 man in the same locality, and now in my own collection ; this latter specimen has the wings and tail 

 slightly shorter, and is possibly not so fully adult, but is perfectly similar in colouring. 



This species may be readily distinguished from P. cafer, the only closely allied form, by the 

 chestnut colour of the crown and breast, while in size and shape it is so similar to that bird 

 that we may safely conclude the habits and economy to be alike in the two species. 



It is much rarer than P. cafer, and appears to be restricted to a very small area, having as 

 yet only been procured by Mr. Ayres in Natal, and by Mr. Barratt near Lydenburg ; and as the 

 former gentleman only met with it during the South-African winter season, it possibly extends 

 further inland than we are at present aware of. According to Mr. Ayres's notes on Natal birds, 

 published in ' The Ibis ' by Mr. Gurney : — " In habits this bird much resembles Nectannia 

 natalensis, its food also being the same, viz. nectar and small insects, especially spiders. It is 

 very rare in this locality, and besides is more shy than most other species. I believe it is only 

 to be found during the winter months." Mr. Barratt states that his specimens were procured 

 between Lydenburg and Pretoria, and were found exclusively on the " Zuikerbosch," or sugar- 

 bush. 



The few specimens which I have seen of this bird have the tail rather shorter than is often 

 the case with P. cafer ; and this is, I suspect, a character of the species ; but, owing to the scarcity 

 of specimens, such cannot be positively asserted. As Mr. Barratt is again about to visit Lyden- 

 burg, we may hope to receive additional information concerning this rare and interesting species. 



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