72 BIRDS OF DAMABA LAND. 



quantity of feathers. I found the young just fledged on 

 April 3rd. 



The iris in this species is very dark brown. 



[Mr. Sharpe possesses a specimen of this Sun-bird, obtained 

 by Mr. Andersson in Little Namaqua Land. — Ed.J 



90. Cinnyris talatala (Smitli). Andersson's Sun-bird. 



Nectarinia talatala, Smith's Report of Soutli Afr. Exp. 1836, p. 58. 

 Neetarinia Anderssoni, Strickland & Sclater, Birds Damar., Contr. 



Om. 1852, p. 153. 

 Cinnyris Anderssonii, Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 1285. 

 Nectarinia talatala, Sharpe's Oat. No. 375. 



I only met with this exquisite little species in my 

 journeyings to the Okavango, in the neighbourhood of 

 which river it was very abundant during the rainy season, 

 being a migratory species, and arriving a little before the 

 commencement of the rains. 



I also found it very common, though exceedingly shy, 

 on the edge of the bush in Ondonga, where I obtained 

 its nest on February 19th: the nest was very large and 

 strongly built, and resembled in form and material that 

 of C. fusca; it contained five small, oblong, and pure- 

 white eggs. Another nest, taken on March 27th, also 

 contained five eggs. 



This Sun-bird is exceedingly lively in its habits, and 

 at the approach of the pairing-season it becomes inspired 

 with the most lovely and exquisite melodies ; in fact its 

 voice is then enchanting beyond description, being a 

 concentration of the softest thrilling and melodious 

 notes. I always found it either singly or in pairs. 



