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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 ivell. 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 sjiecies 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. caffra), 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 Cossyphos 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. natalensis, C. polioptera, C.

subrufescens, C. melanota, C. verticalis, etc.



Hubert D. Astley.



