124 Correspondence


closely feathered, claws black. Beak short and strong, also black.

My specimen is a fierce little creature, and hisses defiance at anyone who

comes near, she also utters a snarling croak, reminding one of a creaking

door.


Mr. Meade Waldo says : ; ' I know the Marsh Owl well. I lived for

years close to the wild ones in Morocco, but never managed to get a

living bird. They nest in the wettest part of the great marshes late

in the summer, when it is very hot, and the whole country a mass of

mosquitoes. They are diurnal, very strong on the wing, catch fish and

frogs, also voles, young ducks, etc. I have never seen one in the

market, and I never shot one, though I often could have done so ;

it looks a big bird on the wing ... It occurs sparingly in the South

of .Spain. The Marsh Owl does not hoot, it gives a loud " squack ".

It prefers far wetter ground than the Short-eared Owl and you never

see it anywhere else."


My specimen is about the size of a Short-eared Owl, will eat rabbit,

but prefers feather to fur. I think it is a female.


Ethel F. Chawner.



THE VOCIFEROUS ROBIN-CHAT (COSSYPHA BICOLOR)


Sirs, — I have lately added to my collection another species of the


African Robin-chats, known under the rather absurd name of


" vociferous " or " noisy " Robin-chat. An extremely handsome bird,


with upper parts dark grey, chin, breast and underparts bright rich


chestnut ; from the beak, encircling the eyes and spreading over the


ears and cheeks, black ; the tail, central feathers, dark grey ; outer


ones, chestnut, and upper tail-coverts chestnut. The bird is the size


of the better-known Cape Robin-chat (C. cqffra), but is slightly stouter


in build. As to his noisiness, I have not heard it, but I have listened to a


very sweet song. The bird arrived in almost faultless condition from


Africa, where the species is found in Cape Colony and Natal, etc.


All the Cossi/phce would make pleasant cage-birds and there are


many species, several of which are inhabitants of Uganda and British


East Africa, such as C. heuglini, C natalemis, C. polioptera, C.


sifluufescens, C. melanota, C. verticalis, etc.


Hubert D. Astley.



