CATHARUS. 13 



The type of llerula (Leach, 1816) is Turdus merula of Europe. 

 It differs from the American species I have seen in having the claws 

 much longer and less curved. 



Turdus nsevius should be removed from its position among the 

 Planestici and placed either among 3Ierula, or even assigned to a 

 separate division. It agrees with Merula in the dissimilarity of color 

 in the sexes ; but differs from all the American true Thrushes in a 

 much more subulate and slenderly conical bill, without any notch at 

 the tip. The claws are longer and straighter than in T. viigratorius, 

 more like typical T. vierula. In form it is perhaps nearer T. tor- 

 quatus than other species of Merula. 



It is somewhat of a question as to what name should be given to 

 the section of Turdus, of which nsevius is the type. Bonaparte, 

 in his Notes on Delattre, states that Turdus nsevius, Gm., is the type 

 of his new genus Ixoreus, and that it is not a Thrush at all, but a 

 true Tseniopterien. Dr. Sclater, to whom Bonaparte exhibited his 

 supposed species, T. nsevius, states (Pr Zool. Soc. 1859, 331) that 

 it proved to be the Tsenioptera rujiventris, of South America, a 

 bird of an entirely different order. Now, on the one hand, Turdus 

 nsevius, Gm., is positively stated by Bonaparte to be the type of his 

 genus Ixoreus. Dr. Sclater, however, explains Bonaparte's errone- 

 ous ideas of its affinities by showing that he had in view an entirely 

 different species, a fact which only accidentally comes to light. 

 Under these circumstances, if Ixoreus is not to be applied to nsevius, 

 must it not be assigned to Tsenioptera rujiventris, in case that 

 species should need a new generic appellation ; or should it be 

 dropped altogether ? On the whole I am inclined to adopt the latter 

 view, and accordingly propose the name Hesperocidila. 



It will be understood, of course, that the preceding arrangement 

 of Turdus is only provisional, and merely intended to hint at the 

 affinities of the American species. Without a full series of the Old 

 World Thrushes, I can only base my notices on the species I have 

 before me. 



Hylocichla. 

 Turdus mustelinus. 



Turdus mustehnns, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 817. — Apdcbon, Om. 

 Biog. I, 1832, 372, pi. 73.— Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 24, pi. 144.— 

 D'Orb. La Sagra's Cuba Ois. 1S40, 49.— Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 

 212.— Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, 294, and 1859, 325.— Ib. Catal. 1861, 

 2, No. 6. 



Turdus melodus, Wils. Am. Orn. I, 1808, 35, pi. ii. 



Turdus densus, Bonap. Comptea Rendus, XXVIII, 1853, 2.— Ib. Notes 

 Delattre, 1854, 26 (Tabasco). 



