CREEPER. 225 



13. -SACCHARINE CREEPER. 



Le Sucrier-figuier, Male, Levail. Afr. vi. 157. pi. 293. f. 2. 



THE total length of this bird is six inches. The bill short, and 

 brown, very little bent; tongue bifid at the end, and capable of elon- 

 gation ; irides chestnut ; the head, neck, back, and wing coverts, fine 

 glossy changeable green gold, with a coppery tinge on the scapulars; 

 rump and upper tail coverts glossy violet, changeable to purple, 

 with a gloss of polished steel in different lights; quills and tail 

 brownish black, the two middle feathers exceed the others in length 

 by more than two inches, and this part of a reddish gold colour; all 

 beneath, from the breast, jonquil yellow; legs brown. 



The female is a trifle smaller, and has the belly yellow like the 

 male ; head, back, and rump rufous grey, with an olive and gilded 

 tinge ; quills and tail grey brown, inclining to olive, but the latter 

 wants the long feathers. 



The male, in the rainy or winter season, loses the elongated tail 

 feathers, and becomes like the female. 



Inhabits the countries far within the Cape of Good Hope, being 

 only found in the forests of the Great Namaquas ; said to support itself 

 on the juice of a Jasmine without scent, which grows in great abun- 

 dance under the Mimosa trees, twining among the branches ; the 

 nest never met with. Supposed to be a distinct species. 



14 —BAND-BELLIED CREEPER. 



LENGTH five inches and a half. Bill seven-eighths of an inch, 

 black ; plumage above olive-brown, beneath olive-yellow, with 



TOL. IV. G G 



