COSSYPHA NATALENSIS. 



dible slightly notched near the tip, its sides convex, the culmen obtuse but 

 distinct ; the apex of lower mandible recurved within the sides of the upper 

 one. Wings short and rounded, the fourth quill feathers the longest, the 

 third and fifth equal and slightly shorter, the second and seventh equal and 

 half an inch shorter, the first about half the length of the fifth. Tail slightly 

 rounded. Tarsi long and moderately strong, distinctly scutellated anteriorly 

 towards the toes ; the outer, inner and hinder toes nearly of equal length, 

 the latter thickest. Claws long, slender, pointed, and moderately curved. 



Length of the tarsi 



of the outer toe... 

 of tlio middle too 

 of the inner toe... 

 of the hinder toe 



DIMENSIONS 



Inches. Lines. 

 Length from the point of the bill to 



the tip of the tail 7 6 



of the bill from the angle of the 



mouth SJ 



of the wings when folded 3 6 



of the tail 3 3 



The colours of the female not known. 



The specimen, which has furnished us with the characters of this species, was procured in the 

 neio-hbourhood of Port Natal, and as only it was obtained, though the woods were well hunted 

 by my party, I am disposed to consider the species as rare even in that district. It was shot 

 close to the edge of an extensive forest, and the natives, who saw it after it was killed, gave us 

 to understand it was a shy bird, and that though it often sought its food upon the ground, it 

 was more generally observed upon trees. Its food consists of insects, and, from our infor- 

 mants, we learned it to have many of the habits of Cossipha vocifera, a bird not uncommon 

 within the limits of tlie Cape Colony. Like the latter it frequently descends to the ground 

 under or about its retreat, and there feeds with activity until disturbed, when it instantly be- 

 takes itself to some tree, upon which it remains at rest until the object which causes the alarm 

 shall have passed away. 



