AVES. 353 



than the other species. It was common about Senafe 

 and Adigrat, and was still abundant at 10,500 feet on 

 the "Wandaj pass. The non-breeding plumage is dull ; 

 it is only in the breeding season that the males acquire 

 their rich purple colour. 



In May they were apparently breeding about Senafe. 

 It was very difficult to find the females, which were 

 probably occupied in incubation. A collector of mine 

 shot seven or eight males, and on my sending him out 

 again for females he could only obtain one. 



112. N. metallica, LicM. 



Verz. der Doubl. p. 15. — Eiipp. Atlas, p. 10, t. vii. — Hemp, and Ehr. 

 Symb. Phys. t. i.— Kiipp. Syst. Uebers. No. 109.— Ferr. et 

 Gal. No. 174.— LefebTre, p. 89.— Brebm, Habesob, No. 39.— 

 Heugl. Orn. N. 0. Afr. p. 222. 



In December, January, and February, N. habessinica 

 was the only Sun-Bird seen near the coast. The present 

 species first appeared in March. It was only met with 

 ia the tropical region, but about Komayli it was 

 common in pairs in June, and apparently commencing 

 to breed. I saw one nest of cocoons, tree-cotton, and 

 fine grass. It was suspended from an acacia, and had 

 the usual form, with an entrance from the side ; there 

 were no eggs in it in the commencement of June. After 

 the breeding season this bird probably loses its long 

 taU-featherSj as they were wanting in a specimen I shot 

 in the beginning of August. I also met with iV. metal- 

 lica in Samhar, the Lebka valley, and very rarely on 

 the Anseba. 



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