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late M. Jules Verreaux as haying been obtained in Abyssinia ; but this locality may well be 
erroneous, as M. Verreaux was notoriously careless as regards locality when labelling collections 
that came into bis hands in the way of trade. I may add that I have no other reason to believe 
that it has ever been met with in Abyssinia. Messrs. Einsch and Hartlaub also say that its 
occurrence in North-east Africa is very doubtful, and the recorded instances are based on the 
allied species having been mistaken for it. They further state, however, that it has been procured 
by Kirk in East Africa — which statement I cannot confirm, as amongst the many examples 
collected by Kirk that I have examined I have not seen one specimen of Melittophagus sonninii ; 
and I think that the statement is based on a confusion between the present species and the 
form of Melittophagus pusillus which has the blue superciliary stripe very fully developed, and 
which has been treated by Cabanis as specifically distinct, under the name of Melittophagus 
cyanostictus, but which does not appear to me to be worthy of specific rank. 
Messrs. Einscb and Hartlaub state that the present species is only known with certainty to 
occur in West Africa, viz. in the Gaboon district, Moondaft, Muni, Cape Lopez, Malimbe, Loanda, 
and the Rio Ckirnba. I have examined specimens from the Gambia, Gaboon, and Congo. 
Hr. Reicbenow says (J. f. O. 1875, p. 18): — “The range of this species is rather restricted in 
the southern part of West Africa. I obtained it on the Gaboon, but it has not been observed 
further north. It is a migrant, but does not collect in such large flocks as Merops albicollis, 
and settles on low bushes in preference to trees.” He further states (J. f. 0. 1877, p. 21) that it 
occurs in Loanda; and Professor Barboza du Bocage says (Jorn. Sc. Lisb. ii. p. 135) that he 
received one obtained by Anchieta at Loango, north of the Congo. 
In habits this species is stated to closely resemble M. pusillus. It lives in pairs or singly, 
frequenting the vicinity of water, and like its allies feeds on insects, which it captures on the 
Aving. I do not find any thing on record respecting its breeding-habits ; but doubtless it 
makes its nest in a hole in the ground, and deposits pure white eggs. 
The present species is very closely allied to Melittophagus pusillus, but is sufficiently well 
differentiated to be entitled to specific rank ; for, so far as I can see, the characters by which it is 
separable are constant. As it has so often been confused with M. pusillus, the following table of 
differences between it and that species, as well as M. lafresnayei, may be of use : — 
Melittophagus pusillus. 
Upper parts parrot-green, rather 
bright in tinge. 
Has almost always a narrow blue 
superciliary stripe, which in 
some specimens is strongly 
developed. 
The band across the throat black, 
narrowly bordered above with 
blue. 
Culmen Tl-1'2 in., wing 3'0-3'35, 
tail 2‘45-2'70, tarsus O' 38- 04 
Melittophagus sonninii. 
Upper parts darker parrot-green 
than in M. pusillus, and not so 
bright in tinge. 
Has no blue superciliary line. 
The band across the throat rich 
deep blue, and the sides of the 
throat below the black patch 
which passes below the eye 
pure white. 
Cuhnenl‘2-l'25in.,wing3-35-3'45, 
tail 2'75-2'9, tarsus 0'42-0'48. 
Melittophagus lafresnayei. 
Upper parts as in M. sonninii, but 
the forehead and crown richly 
marked with turquoise - blue, 
and the inner secondaries 
washed with the same colour. 
Has a broad rich turquoise - blue 
superciliary line. 
The band across the throat rich 
turquoise-blue, but rather nar- 
rower than in M. sonninii. 
Culmen U3-T4 in., wing 3'8-3'9, 
tail3'35-3'80, tarsus 0 - 45-0'48. 
