Solitary Thrush (Turdus solitarius). 21 S 



These details I had reserved for another occasion ; but, as 

 the subject has been mentioned, I may as well publish them 

 at once. 



I regret, however, that I cannot subscribe to Mr. Swain- 

 son's claim to be considered as " the first to discover the 

 true locality " of the hyacinthine maccaw, inasmuch as a dif- 

 ferent and much more extensive one had been long previously 

 indicated by another observer, M. d'Azara. Mr. Swainson 

 procured it in " the Campos and Catingas of the interior of 

 Bahia, between the forests of Urupie and the banks of the 

 Rio St. Francesco ; " and states this to be " that part of Brazil 

 where alone this magnificent species is supposed to be found." 

 But M. d'Azara had, at least thirty years ago, met with seve- 

 ral pairs of this species between the 27th and 29th degrees 

 of latitude ; and he had been assured that it was found as far 

 south as 33J°, nesting not only in the hollows of trees, but 

 also, and that more frequently, in those which it digs for 

 itself on the perpendicular banks of the rivers Parana and 

 Uruguay. 



I remain, Sir, yours, &c. 

 March 9. 1831. Edward T. Bennett* 



Art. VI. On the Solitary Thrush (Turdus solitarius). 

 By J. Couch, Esq. 



The most ancient author to whom I have access, that 

 mentions this bird, is Gesner, who speaks of it as unknown 

 in Germany in a wild state, but that it was not unfrequently 

 sent thither from Italy, and sold at an high rate. He quotes 

 Aristotle and Albertus Magnus for their accounts of this bird. 

 Ruysch [Theat. Anim., folio, vol. i. p. 73.) quotes Varro as 

 being acquainted with it ; and gives a description of the male 

 and female, which differ more than is common with the Zurdi 

 in their plumage, together with some remarks on its history. 

 In this country it has fallen into the hands of Montagu and 

 Bewick, who have given figures and descriptions ; in addition 

 to this, it is noticed by the author of the Journal of a Na- 

 turalist (printed for Murray, but without the author's name). 

 After such numerous and important testimony in favour of its 

 being a separate species, I was much surprised, in looking 

 over Dr. Fleming's History of British Animals (p. 86.), to find 

 him affirming, without hesitation, " that the Passer solitarius 

 of Willoughby and Solitary Thrush of Montagu " are no 

 other than the young of the common starling. If such were 



p 3 



