AOS
late J r . Jules Verreaux as having been obtained in Abyssinia; but this locality may well he
erroneous, as I I . Verreaux was notoriously careless as regards Locality when labelling collections
that came into his 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 Uartlaub 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 i t . 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 1 have not seen one specimen of Melittopliayus sonninii •
and I think that the statement is based on a confusion between the present species and the
form of MeUttophagus pt!nillnn which has the blue superciliary stripe very fully developed, and
which has been treated by Cabanis as specifically distinct, under the name of MeUttophagus
cyanosticlus, but which docs not appear to me to be worthy of specific rank.
Messrs. Finsch and Uartlaub state that the present species is only known with certainty to
occur in "West Africa, viz. in the Gaboon district, Moon daft, Muni, Cape Lopez, Maliinbe, Luanda,
and the ltio Chimha. I have examined specimens from the Gambia, Gaboon, and Congo.
Dr. Reichenow says (J. f. O. 1875, p. IS):—"The range of this species is rather restricted in
the southern part of AY est Africa. I obtained it on the Gaboon, hut 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. O. 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
win". 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 MeUttophagus 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 arc constant. As it lias 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:—
Melittophayus pusillus.
Upper parts parrot-green, ratlier
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.
Culmcn 1-1-V3 in., wing 3-0-3-35,
tail 2-45-2-70, tarsus 0-88-0-4
Melittophayus sonninii.
Upper parts darker parrot-green
than in M. pusillus, aud not so
bright in tinge.
Has no blue superciliary line.
The band across tbe throat rich
deep blue, and the sides of the
throat below the black patch
which passes below the eye
pure white.
Culmenl-2-l-2Giu.,wing3-35-3-45,
tail 2-75-2-9, tarsus 0"42-0-48.
MeUttophagus 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 narrower
than iu .1/. sonninii.
Culmcn 1-3-1-4 in., wing 3-8-3-9,
tail 3-35-3'80, tarsus 0" 15-0-48.
109
The specimens figured are those described and are in my own collection.
In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :—
E Mus. U. E. Dresser.
<*. Gaboon. 6, ? . Omoro, Gaboon, 13th June, 1870 (Skertchtey). e, juv. Muni river, West Africa (Du- Chaillu).
E Mus. Brit.
River Gambia (IVhitely). b. Gaboon (Verreaux). c, o". Omoro, Gaboon, 18th June, 1870 (Skerlchlry).
d. Gaboon (DuChaitlu). e, juv. Gaboon (DuChaitlu). f. Congo (Capt. R. M. Sperling).
E Mus. G. E. Shelley.
? . Abyssinia? (Verreaux). b, S; c, ! . Gaboon, 84th June, 1888 (J. Thomson).
E Mus. Tweeddale.
ad. j b, juv. Gaboon (DuChaitlu).