to 8000 feet, the range varying according to season. This Ouzel
occurs from Murree to Sikhim ; it has also been obtained in the
Bhutan Doars, the Khasi hills, Cachar, and Manipur.
Habits, &fc. This Ouzel builds its nest sometimes on the ground
in the hollow of a massive root or fallen trunk, and some-
times, more frequently perhaps, on a ledge of rock or on the
extremity of a thick branch, where it has been cut or broken off.
The nest is constructed of moss and leaves, and little or no mud is
used in the structure. The breeding-season lasts from April to
August. The eggs, four in number, are dingy green thickly marked
with reddish brown, and measure about 1*2 by '87.
677. Merula atrigularis. The Black-throated Ouzel.
Turdus atrogularis, Temm.Man.tfOrn. ed.2, i, p. 169, pi. (1820); M/th,
Cat. p. 101 ; Horsf. Sf M. Cat. i, p. 195 ; Hume, Cat. no. 80o.
Planesticus atrogularis (jPewiw.), Jerd. B. I. i, p. 529; Stoliczka,
J. A. S. B. xxxvii, pt. ii, p. 35 ; Hume $ Henders. Lah. to Yark.
p. 192 ; Scully, S. F. iv, p. 140, viii, p. 286.
Cichloides atrogularis (Temm.), Hume, 8. F. i, p. 179.
&2
182 TTJRDID^.
Merula atrigularis (Temm.), Barnes, Birds 'Bom. p. 173; Seebohm,
Cat. S. M. v, p. 267.
The Black-throated Thrush, Jerd. ; Mach-reycha, Beng.
Coloration. Male. After the autumn moult the lores, cheeks,
chin, throat, breast, and sides of the neck are black, each feather
with a broad white margin ; rest of the underparts white, the sides
of the body with ashy streaks ; under wing-coverts dull orange-
brown ; axillaries rufous-grey; under tail-coverts dark brown tipped
with white ; ear-coverts, the whole upper plumage, and the visible
portions of the closed wings and tail greyish brown, the feathers
of the crown centred with dark brown. Soon after the moult the
white margins of the head, neck, and breast become reduced in
width, and are altogether lost by summer, causing the parts to
appear uniformly black.
Female. Sides of the head and neck greyish brown like the upper
plumage ; chin and throat whitish streaked with dark brown ;
breast ashy brown spotted with black ; otherwise as the male.
Legs and feet greyish brown ; bill blackish brown, dusky yellow
at base of lower mandible ; iris blackish brown {Butler}.
Length about 10 ; tail 3*8 ; wing 5'2 ; tarsus 1*3 ; bill from
gape 1.
Distribution. A winter visitor to the Himalayas and the plains
of Upper India. This species extends throughout the Himalayas
from Hazara to Assam. In the plains it is found as far south as
Karachi, Cutch, Delhi, and Dacca. Erom Assam it ranges south
through the hill-tracts to Manipur.
Jerdon speaks of this Ouzel as inhabiting the higher ranges of
the Himalayas in summer. This statement has received no confir-
mation since he made it ; but it is not improbably correct, as I have
seen a specimen killed at Simla on the 14th August and one killed
in Kashmir in May. The bulk of these Ouzels, however, if not
all, retire north to Siberia to breed. In winter they are found in
Central Asia and Afghanistan, but not to the east of Assam.
678. Merula unicolor. TickelTs Ouzel.
Turdus unicolor, Tick. J. A. S. B. ii, p. 577 (1833).
Petrocincla homochroa, Hodgs. in Grays Zool. Misc. p. 83 (1844).
Turdus dissimilis, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xvi, p. 144, part. (1847).
Geocichla dissimilis, Blyth, Cat. p. 163 ; Horsf. fy M. Cat. i, p. 101.
Geocichla unicolor (Tick.), Blyth, Cat. p. 163; Jerd, B. I. i, p. 519;
Hume $ Renders. Lah. to Yark. p. 192 ; Hume, N. 8f E. p. 230;
Ball, S. F. ii, p. 408, vii, p. 213 ; Hume, Cat. no. 356 ; Scully, S. F.
viii, p. 283 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 171.
Merula unicolor (Tick.), Seebohm, Cat. B. M. v, p. 271 ; Oates in
Hume's N. 8f E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 96.
The Dusky Ground-Thrush, Jerd. ; Desi pawai, Hind. ; Machasah,
Beng. ; Poda paliaa, Tel.
Coloration. Male. The upper plumage, sides of head and neck,
and the visible portions of the closed wings and tail ashy grey ;
MERIT LA. 133
lower plumage slaty grey, paler on the chin and becoming white
on the abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts ; auxiliaries ashy grey,
generally tinged with buff ; under wing-coverts chestnut-brown.
Female. Upper plumage and sides of neck olive-brown ; wings
and tail dark brown, the outer webs suffused with olive-brown ;
lores blackish with a pale band above ; sides of the head mixed
brown and fulvous ; chin and throat white, the sides streaked with
black ; breast olivaceous, the upper part spotted with black ; sides
of the body pale ochraceous ; abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts
white; axillaries and under wing-coverts chestnut-brown.
In the male the iris is reddish, legs and feet light brownish
(Hwne Coll.} ; in the female the bill is yellow with a few dusky
cloudings ; iris brown ; eyelid greenish yellow ; feet vivid orange-
yellow ; claws yellowish horny (Scully).
Length about 9 ; tail 3-4 ; wing 4'7 ; tarsus 1-2 ; bill from
gape 1-1.
Distribution. Found in summer throughout the Himalayas from
Murree to Sikhim up to about 7000 feet. In the winter this species
occurs throughout the plains of Northern India from Sincl to Bengal.
So far as is known it extends at this season to Khandala, Raipur,
and Orissa, and Jerdon records it even from the Eastern Ghats,
a specimen from this latter locality being no win the British Museum.
An Ouzel obtained at Belgaum in March, now in the Hume Col-
lection, and referred to M. unicolor, is undoubtedly a specimen of
M. obscura.
Habits, $c. Breeds in the Himalayas in May and June, con-
structing a nest of moss and fibres in trees. The eggs, three or
four in number, are greenish white, spotted and freckled with rufous
and measure 1/06 by '78.
679. Merula protomomelaena. The Black-busted Ouzel.
Turdus dissimilis, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xvi, p. 144, rf (1847) ; Godw.-
Aust. J. A. S. B. xli, pt. ii,p. 142; Seebohm, S. F. viii,_p. 437.
Geocichla dissimilis (Blyth), Blyth, Cat. p. 163, rf; Jerd. Ibis, 1872,
p. 136, pi. vii ; Hume, Cat. no. 358 ; id. 8. F. ix, p. 103, xi, p. 126.
Turdulus cardis (Temrn.), apud Jerd. B. I. i, p. 521.
Turdus protomomelas, Cabanis, Journ.f. Orn. 1867, p. 286.
Geocichla tricolor, Hume, Ibis, 1871, p. 411 ; id. S. F. iii, jp. 409.
Merula protomomelrena (Cab.), Seebohm, Cat. B. M. v, p. 265.
The Variable Pied Blackbird, Jerd.
Coloration. Male. The whole head, neck, and upper breast black ;
upper plumage, wings, and tail dark slate-colour ; sides of the
lower breast, sides of the body, axillaries, and under wing-coverts
bright orange-ferruginous ; middle of lower breast, abdomen, vent,
and under tail-coverts white.
Younger males have the upper wing-coverts tipped with rufous
and some black spots on the red of the lower parts of the plumage.
Female. The whole upper plumage olive-brown tinged with slaty ;
wings and tail brown, suffused with olive on the outer webs ; sides
1 34 TUKDIDjE.
of the head ashy brown, the shafts of the ear-coverts whitish ;
chin and upper throat white streaked with brown, the streaks in-
creasing in number at the sides ; upper breast olivaceous, spotted
with black ; middle of lower breast, abdomen, vent, ,and under
tail-coverts white ; sides of breast, sides of body," axillaries, and
under wing-coverts bright orange-ferruginous.
In the male the bill and orbital skin are yellow ; iris deep brown ;
legs and feet dusky orange-yellow (Cripps}. In the female the
legs, feet, bill, and eyelids are wax-yellow (flume) ; iris deep brown
(Scully).
Length about 9; tail 3-3; wing 4-7; tarsus 1-3; bill from
gape 1-1.
The synonymy of M. protomomelcena has been determined entirely
by a careful perusal of the various original descriptions of the bird,
which fortunately are sufficiently in detail to render the identification
certain. Judging from Hume's remarks (S. E. ix, p. 103), any appeal
to Blyth's types in the Indian Museum on this point must prove
useless if not misleading. Blyth applied the name Turdus dissimilis
to specimens of both j$f. unicolor ai\dM.^)rotomomelcena, confounding
the two together, and consequently it is advisable to discard this
name.
Distribution. I have examined specimens of this Ouzel from
Dibrugarh in Assam, the Tipperah hills and Manipur. Blyth
appears to have procured it from the neighbourhood of Calcutta,
and I know of no other locality for this species, which is probably
a constant resident in the above-mentioned places.
Scully (S. E. viii, p. 284) records a specimen of this Ouzel from
Nepal, but judging from his description, in which a supercilium is
mentioned, and the sides of the breast and flanks are referred to
as ferruginous, there can be little doubt that the bird was M. obscura,
which Hodgson procured in Nepal, one of his specimens being now
in the British Museum.
680. Merula obscura. TJw Dark Ouzel.
Turdus ohscurus, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i ; p. 816 ; Hume fy Dav. S. F. vi,
p. 251 ; Hume, Cat. no. 369 his ; id. S. F. xi, p. 130.
Turdus pallens, Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat. i, p. 457 (1811).
Turdus rufulus, Drap. Diet. Class. (THist. Nat. x, p. 443 (1826) ;
Horsf. $ M. Cat. i, p. 401.
Turdus modestus, Eyton, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 103.
Turdus javanicus?, Horsf., Blyth, Cat. p. 161.
Geocichla dissimilis (Blyth}, Scully, S. F. viii, p. 284,
Merula obscura (Gm.), Seebohm, Cat B. M. v, p. 273 ; Oates, B. B.
i, j). 1.
Geocichla unicolor (Tick.}, apud Butler, S. F. ix, p. 399.
Coloration. Male. Upper plumage olive-brown : the forehead,
crown, and nape in old birds tinged with ashy ; lores black ; a broad
white supercilium from the lores to the nape ; chin, a patch at base
of bill, and under the eye white ; ear-coverts and the whole throat
dark slaty brown ; breast and sides of the body chestnut-brown ;
MERULA. 135
abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts white, the last basally mar-
gined with brown ; wings and tail brown, suffused with olive on
the outer webs ; axillaries and under wing-coverts slaty grey.
Female. Resembles the male in general coloration, but has the
crown always of the same colour as the upper plumage ; the lores
and ear-coverts pale, the latter with whitish shafts ; the middle of
the chin and throat white with a few minute brown streaks.
Iris olive-brown ; eyelids greenish ; upper mandible dark brown ;
lower mandible and gape yellow ; inside of mouth yellow ; legs
yellowish brown ; claws horn-colour.
Length nearly 9; tail 3-5; wing 4-8; tarsus 1-2; bill from
gape 1-1.
Distribution. A winter visitor, more or less abundant, to the
whole of Burma, the Andamans, Manipur, Shillong, Sikhim, and
Nepal. An occasional straggler visits the plains of India, and in
the Hume Collection there is a specimen procured at Belgaum in
March. In the winter this species extends to China and to the
Malay peninsula and islands, and it summers in Siberia.
681. Merula subobscnra. Salvador's Ouzel.
Merula subobscura. Salvador!. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. (2) i, p. 413
(1889).
Coloration. Similar to Merula obscura but larger, with the white
superciliary band less conspicuous, the sides of the body paler
ochraceous, and the proportion of the primaries different.
The type of this species, the only specimen known, was procured
by Mr. 1'ea at Taho in the Karen hills, north-east of Toungngoo,
in March. It is an adult male.
The measurements of this specimen are : length 10 ; tail 3'8 ;
wing 5-25 ; tarsus 1'2; bill from gape 1.
The third and fourth primaries are subeqnal and longest ; the
second shorter than the fifth and longer than the sixth. In
M. olscura the third primary is the longest, the fourth is rather
shorter than the third, and the second is between the fourth and
fifth.
I have examined the type of this species and I have failed to
find any example of this Thrush from Burma in the British Museum
series.
682. Merula feae. Feet's Ouzel.
Turdus chrysolaus, Temm., apud Godiv.-Aust. J. A. 8. B. xxxix,
pt. ii, p. 102, xli, pt. ii, p. 143.
Turdulus pallens (rail.}, apud Godw.-Amt. J. A. S. B. xliii, pt. ii,
p. 178.
Turdus pallidus, Gmel., apud Godw.-Aust. J. A. S. B. xlv, pt. ii,
p. 196 ; Hume $ Dav. 8. F. vi, p. 253 ; Hume, Cat. no. (}'.) tt>r :
id. S. F. xi, p. 130.
Merula pallida, GmeL, apud Oates, B. B. i, p. 2.
Merula feae, Sakadori, Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. (2) v, p. 514 (1887),
p. 610 (1888).
Turdus subpallidus, Hume, S. F. xi, p. 132 (1888).
136
Coloration. Resembles M. olscura, but differs in the following
respects : the breast and sides of the body in both sexes are slaty
grey, not chestnut-brown ; the upper plumage in both sexes is
russet-brown, not olive-brown ; the crown in the adult male is never
darker than the other upper parts ; the sides of the head and the
sides of the chin and throat are russet-brown, not slaty brown ;
and in the adult male the throat itself is slaty grey, not slaty brown.
Iris deep chocolate ; bill black ; legs pale cloudy brown ( Wardlaw
Ramsay) ; legs and feet brownish yellow ; bill blackish brown,
yellow at gape and on base of lower mandible ; iris brown (Hume).
Of the same dimensions as M. obscura.
This Ouzel resembles M. pallida, Ginelin, but may be instantly
distinguished from that species by the presence of a supercilium,
which is altogether absent in M. pallida. The latter inhabits
Eastern Asia and may occasionally visit Burma.
Distribution. Shillong and Cherra Poonjee ; Japvo peak in the
Naga hills at 10,000 feet; Manipur; Karennee at 5000 feet;
Muleyit mountain in Tenasserim.
All the specimens of this species that I have examined from the
above localities were procured in the winter months, but this Ouzel
is not unlikely to prove a resident species in those parts.
G-enus CKEOCICHLA, Kuhl (teste Gould), 1836.
In the Thrushes of this genus the sexes are different and the
under wing-coverts and axillaries are each of two colours, the
position of the two colours on the under wing-coverts being
transposed on the axillaries.
From Merula this genus differs in having a somewhat blunter
wing and shorter tail. The underside of the wing presents a
pattern formed by the white bases of many of the quills.
Key to the Species.
a. No chestnut on lower plumage.
a'. Upper tail-coverts margined with white . . G. wardi, p. 137.
b'. No white on upper tail-coverts G. sibirica, p. 138.
b. Lower plumage almost entirely chestnut.
c'. Median wing-coverts broadly tipped with
white.
". Chin and throat white G. cyanonotus, p. 139.
b". Chin and throat chestnut like the breast. G. citrina, p. 140.
d\ Median wing-coverts without white tips.
c". Chin and throat chestnut G. innotata, p. 141.
T. Chin and throat white G. albiyularis, p. 142.
e" Chin white, throat chestnut G. anflamanensis,
[p. 142.
GEOCICHLA.. 137
683. Geocichla wardi. The Pied Ground-TJirusli.
Turdus wardii, JenL J. A. S. B. xi, p. 882 (1842) ; id. III. Ind. Om.
pi. viii ; Lc(/qe, Birds Ceyl. p. 453.
Merula wardiV (Jerd.}, Blyth, Cat. p. 163 ; Horsf. $ M. Cat, i,
p. 402.
Turdulus wardii (Je.rd.\ Jerd. B. I. i, p. 520 ; Hume, Cat. no. 357 ;
Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 172.
Cichloselys wardii (Jerd.}, Hume, N. fy E. p. 231.
Oreocincla pectoralis, Legge, S. F. iv, p. 244.
Geocichla wardi (Jerd.}, Seebohm, Cat. B. M. v, p. 178 ; Gates in
Hume's N. 8f E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 97.
Ward's Pied Blackbird, Jerd.
Coloration. Male. The whole head, neck, breast, upper plu-
mage, wings, and tail black ; the lesser and median wing-coverts
very broadly tipped with white ; the greater wing-coverts and
quills tipped with white, except the earlier primaries, which, with
the primary-coverts, are partially margined with white ; the rump
and upper tail-coverts with crescentic white tips; tail with a con-
siderable amount of white, increasing in extent from the middle
feathers to the outer ; a w r hite supercilitnn to the nape ; abdomen,
vent, and under tail-coverts white ; sides of the body and the
axillaries white, each feather with a subterminal black bar ; under
wing-coverts black tipped white.
Female. Upper plumage and wings olive-brown, all the wing-
coverts and tertiaries with buff tips, the outer webs of the quills
suffused with russet, the longer feathers of the rump and upper
tail-coverts tipped with dull white ; tail olive-brown, the portion
next the shafts darker, the four outer pairs of feathers tipped
white ; a broad buff supercilium to the nape ; sides of the head and
of the throat mixed buff and black ; chin nearly plain white ;
middle of throat and the upper breast pale huffish white, each
feather margined with dark brown ; lower breast, upper abdomen,
and sides of the body barred with olivaceous and suffused wit h
ochraceous ; middle of abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts
white.
Iris brown; bill ochre-yellow, the tip of upper mandible black ;
legs and feet fleshy ochre (Hume).
Length about 8'5 ; tail 3'3 ; wing 4-5 ; tarsus 1 ; bill from
gape 1'15.
Distribution. Summers in the Himalayas from the Sutlej valley
to Sikhim and the Bhutan Doars up to 6000 or 7000 feet ; \vint crs
in Southern India and Ceylon. The chief winter-quarters of this
species appear to be the Nilgiris and other hill-ranges down to
Cape Comorin and Ceylon. It must necessarily occur over a great
part of India when migrating, but it has seldom been observed at
that period. Major Lloyd records it from the Konkan, and Jerdon
from Nellore in the Carnatic.
Habits, Sfc. Brooks remarks that this species has a strange song
of two notes and quite unmusical. It breeds in the Himalayas
from May to July, constructing a nest of moss and fibres, with or
138
without mud, in the branch of a tree, and lays four eggs, which are
described as being pale green marked with purple and brownish
red, and measuring about 1 by -72.*
684. Greocichla sibirica. The Siberian Ground-Thrush.
Turdus sibiricus, Pall. Reis. ~Russ. Reich, iii, p. C94 (1776) ; Hume,
Cat. no. 369 quat.
Oreocincla inframarginata, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxix, p. 106 (1860) ;
Ball, S. F. i, p. 70 ; Hume, S. F. ii, p. 223.
Turdulus davisoni, Hume, S. F. v, pp. 63, 136 (1877).
Turdulus sibericus (Pall.), Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi, pp. 255, 513 ;
Hume t S. F. xi, p. 132.
Geocichla sibirica (Pall.), Seebohm, Cat. B. M. v, p. 180; Gates,
B. B. i, p. 4.
Coloration. Male. The fully adult has the whole plumage slaty
black, the margins of the feathers paler ; the outer three pairs of
tail-feathers narrowly tipped with white ; a broad white super-
cilium to the nape ; the under tail-coverts tipped with white ;
axillaries white tipped with dark ashy, and the under wing-coverts
ashy tipped white. Males after the second autumn moult are
bluish slaty instead of slaty black, but the middle of the abdomen
* GEOCICHLA AVENSIS.
Turdus avensis, Gray, Griffith's ed. Cuvier, vi, p. 530, pi. (1829).
Geocichla avensis (Gray), Hume, 8. F. viii, p. 39 ; Seebohm, Cat. B. M. v,
p. 167.
Coloration. Forehead, crown, nape, and hind neck bright chestnut ; upper
plumage, wings, and tail dark slaty brown, the lesser and median wing-coverts
almost entirely white, and the greater coverts tipped with white ; lores, cheeks,
and a portion of the ear-coverts white ; remainder of the head, throat, and
upper breast black ; lower breast, abdomen, and sides of the body white spotted
with black ; middle of abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts white ; axillaries
white tipped black ; under wing-coverts black tipped white. Wing 4'2 ; tail 2'5.
It is not known how the sexes differ. The above description probably applies
to the male only.
The only record of the occurrence of this species within Indian limits is the
statement of Gray that the plate of G. avensis in his work was taken by
Mr. Crawfurd from a specimen procured at Ava. Until this habitat is con-
firmed, I think it preferable merely to notice this species and thus draw atten-
tion to it. This species has never been observed in Burma again since
Crawfurd's time.
I have little doubt that G. avensis is the same bird as G. interpres, Kuhl.
The two species are said to differ only in one slight respect. G. avensis has
the greater wing-coverts plain, and G. interpres has them tipped with white ;
but as all we know of the former bird is derived from Gray's figure, too ^much
reliance must not be placed on this character.
Hume received a specimen of a Thrush from the Malay peninsula (Kumbow)
which he identified with G. avensis. On examining this specimen, which is
now in the British Museum, I find that the greater wing-coverts are wanting
or in part moulting, and that the new sprouting feathers of this part appear
to be tipped with white. The specimen is by no means a good one for the
purpose of deciding the question of the identity or difference of the two species,
which must for the present remain unsettled.
GEOCICHLA. 139
is white ; and the distribution of white marks is the same as in the
fully adult. Males after the first autumn moult are similar to
those just described, but the centres of the feathers of the upper
abdomen and sides of the body are white and the tips darker than
the other parts, causing a barred appearance ; they have also a
rufous band across the breast, the remains of the nestling plumage.
The nestling is unknown.
Female. The whole upper plumage, wings, and tail olive-brown
with a slaty tinge on the rump ; the wing-coverts tipped with
buff ; the outer webs of quills tinged with rufescent ; the outer
tail-feathers narrowly tipped white ; an indistinct buff supercilium
to the nape ; sides of the head mixed brown and buff ; cheeks buff
bordered below by a dusky stripe ; chin and throat buff ; breast
pale buff, the feathers tipped and margined with brown ; middle of
abdomen white ; sides of the body olivaceous brown obsoletely
barred darker; under tail-coverts white with basal brown margins ;
axillaries white tipped olive-brown ; under wing-coverts olive-
brown tipped white.
Adult males have the bill black ; iris deep brown ; front of legs,
feet, and claws greenish yellow ; back of legs dirty yellow. Females
have the iris dark brown ; the upper mandible very dark brown ;
the lower mandible and gape to angle of gonys dirty yellow ; legs,
feet, and claws orange-yellow (Hume 3f Davison}.
Length about 9 ; tail 3'6 : wing 4-8 ; tarsus I'l ; bill from
gape 1*1.
Distribution. A winter visitor to the eastern portions of the
Empire. This species has been obtained on Muleyit and Nwalabo
mountains in Tenasserim ; at Toungngoo ; in Karennee ; and in
Manipur. It has also occurred in the Andamans, a female speci-
men from these islands having been named 0. inframaryinata by
Blyth. In winter this bird is found from China to Java, and it
summers in Siberia and Japan.
685. Geocichla cyanonotus. The White-throated Ground-
Thrush.
Turdus cyanotus, Jard. $ Sclby, III. Orn. i, pi. xlvi (1828).
Geocichla cyanotus (J. $ S.), Blyth, Cat. p. 163 ; Horsf. $ M. Cat. i,
p. 101 ; Jcrd. B. I. i, p. 517 ; Blanf. J. A. S. B. xxxviii, pt. ii,
p. 179; Hume, J. A. S. B. xxxix, pt. ii, p. 118; id. N. 8f E.
p. 229 ; id. Cat. no. 354 ; Davison, S. F. x, JD. 374 ; Seebphm, Cat.
B. M. v, p. 172; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 1/1 ; Oates, in Hume's
N. $ E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 98.
Coloration. Male. Forehead, crown, nape, hind neck and sides
of the neck, breast, abdomen, and sides of the body golden rufous,
the crown tinged with greenish ; vent and under tail-covert s
white ; back, rump, upper tail-coverts, scapulars, and wing-coverts
slaty blue; the median wing-coverts broadly tipped with white;
quills dark brown, margined on the outer webs with pale slaty;
tail slaty blue, the outer feathers tipped pale ; lores, cheeks, chin,
] 40
and throat white ; an oblique brown band from the eye down-
wards, succeeded by a baud of white behind it running down the
neck, and by another brown band running through the middle of
the ear-coverts, followed again by a narrow white patch ; axillaries
white, tipped with ashy fulvous; under wing-coverts slaty blue,
tipped with white ; a large patch of white on the underside of the
quills.
Female. Differs from the male in having the back, scapulars,
the outer webs of the secondaries, and many of the wing-coverts
suffused with olive-green.
Iris dark brown ; bill black ; feet fleshy ; claws dusky (Fair-
bank}.
Length about 8*5 ; tail 3 ; wing 4*1 ; tarsus 1*2 ; bill from
gape 1-1.
Distribution. The southern half of the peninsula of India, from
about north latitude 24 to Travancore. This species appears to
be resident or very locally migratory within the above-defined area,
and to be found up to 4000 feet.
Habits, fyc. Breeds from June to September, making a nest
apparently very similar to that of G. citrina, but using mud in its
construction. The eggs are pale bluish or greenish white marked