dible slightly notched near the tip, its sides convex, the culmen ohtuse hut
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 len°-th,
the latter thickest. Claws long, slender, pointed, and moderately curved.
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 ................................. *o 8 |
of the wings when folded....... 3 6
of the tail... . .................... 3 3
Inches. Lines.
Length of the tarsi ............................ i 2A
of the outer toe........................ o 4^
of the middle to e ................... o 7
. of the inner toe.......... . ............ 0 44
of the hinder toe .................... o 4
The colours of the female not known.
The specimen, which has famished us with the characters of this species, was procured in the
neighbourhood 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 inform
an t, we learned it to have many of the habits of Cossipha v o d fe r a , a bird not uncommon
within the limits of the 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 betakes
itself to some tree, upon which it remains at rest until the object which causes the alarm
shall have passed away.