THRUSHES AND ALLIED SPECIES. 69 



SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH GENERA AND SPECIES. 



GENUS I. ORIOLUS. ORIOLE. 



Bill rather long, stout, nearly straight, as broad as high at 

 the base ; upper mandible with the ridge narrow, the sides 

 eloping at the base ; tarsus short, compressed, with seven dis- 

 tinct anterior scutella ; toes of moderate size, the anterior 

 spreading little, being united at the base ; claws of ordinary 

 length, arched, acute , wings rather long, the first quill short, 

 the third and fourth longest ; tail of moderate length, straight, 

 rounded. 



1. Oriolus Galbula. Golden Oriole. Male bright yellow, 

 the wings and tail black, tipped with yellow, the loral space 

 black. Female greenish-yellow above, yellowish- white be- 

 neath, with longitudinal dusky lines. 



GENUS II. TURDUS. THRUSH. 



Bill of moderate length, rather slender, straight, compressed ; 

 upper mandible with the ridge rather narrow, the sides convex ; 

 tarsus of moderate length, rather slender, compressed, with 

 seven anterior scutella, of which the three upper are indistinct ; 

 toes of moderate size, the third and fourth united at the base ; 

 claws of ordinary length, arched, acute ; wings of moderate 

 length, broad, rounded, the first quill extremely small, the 

 third and fourth longest ; tail of moderate length, slightly 

 emarginate. 



1. Turdus Merula. Blackbird. Male with the plumage 

 black, the bill yellow, the feet dusky. Female deep brown 

 above, lighter beneath, the bill and feet dusky. 



2. Turdus torquatus. Ring Ouzel. Male with the plum- 

 age blackish-brown, the fore-part of the breast white. Female 

 similar, the white of the breast tinged with brown. 



3. Turdus pilaris. Fieldfare. Head grey, fore part of 



