374 Mr. T. E. Buckley on Birds observed 
Beak red at base, black at tip; orbital space red; legs red; 
iris dark hazel. 
Very common throughout the Transvaal ; found in flocks 
of six or eight or more; they fly with a rapid and straight 
flight, and, when disturbed, generally all go off together. 
Nectarinia famosa (L.). 
S . Drakenberg, Natal, December 19th, 1873. 
Beak and legs black ; iris dark hazel. 
Only seen in this one place, but most likely a summer visi¬ 
tant. About here I found several pairs living amongst the 
thick patches of bush along the small streams that run down 
the side of the Drakenberg. They were restless, but not at 
all shy. 
Nectarinia bifasciata (Shaw). 
a, $, b , $ . Towanni River, Bamangwato, October 23, 
1873. 
Bill black; legs black ; iris dark hazel. 
Quite the commonest Sun-bird from north of Pretoria into 
the Matabili country. They were generally to be seen in 
pairs, or perhaps two cocks chasing a hen. Like all dark- 
coloured Sun-birds, the beautiful plumage of the male is only 
to be seen on a near approach. From a specimen I have in 
my collection it would appear that the male changes from 
the sober colours of the female into his own lovely hues in 
October. The habits of all the Sun-birds seem to be similar, 
very lively and restless, rarely remaining long in one tree, 
unless attracted by an abundance of flowers, in which no 
doubt their food is to be found. The males are much shyer 
than the females. I did not observe this species in Natal. 
Nectarinia gutturalis (L.). 
$. Matabili, October 8th, 1873. 
I only met with this bird in the Matabili country about the 
Imquisi and Samouqui rivers; and even there they were not 
very abundant. The young male gets the scarlet plumage on 
the throat first, the feathers of the back being of a light 
greyish brown. 
