BLACK THRUSH, OR BLACKBIRD, 83 



are short, those on the nasal membrane roundish. There is a 

 row of small bristle-feathers along the base of the upper man- 

 dible. The wings are broad, semi-ovate, the primaries consi- 

 derably longer than the secondaries ; the first quill extremely 

 small and narrow ; the fourth longest, the fifth scarcely shorter, 

 the third almost as long, the second a little shorter than the 

 third ; the other primaries slowly graduated ; the third, fourth, 

 fifth, and sixth, cut out on the outer web towards the end. 

 The secondaries are slightly incurvate, broadly rounded, with 

 a minute acumen. The wings when closed extend one-third 

 down the tail, which is long, nearly straight, slightly round- 

 ed, the feathers broad, rounded and acuminate. 



The bill is bright orange, as are the mouth, tongue, and 

 margins of the eyelids. The irides are hazel ; the feet and 

 claws dusky-brown, the heel and soles yellow. The general 

 colour of the plumage is deep black, pure or slightly tinged with 

 brown, the lower parts as dark as the upper. The primary 

 quills are of a lighter tint, and obscurely edged with brown. 

 The central part of the concealed portion of each feather is 

 light grey. 



Length to end of tail lOf ; extent of wings 16 ; bill along 

 the ridge ^§, along the edge of lower mandible If | ; wing 

 from flexure o^^ ; tail 4| ; tarsus l^^^^ '•> first toe y^, its claw 

 i\ ; second toe -^^ ; its claw || ; third toe 1, its claw -^^ ; 

 fourth toe ||, its claw ||. 



Female. — The female differs considerably in colour. The 

 bill is dark-brown, paler towards the edges, the skin at the 

 corner orange ; the edges of the eyelids greenish-orange, the 

 irides hazel ; the feet dusky-brown, the claws darker. The 

 general colour of the plumage is deep brown above, the quills 

 darker, the tail brownish-black ; the lower parts lighter, the 

 throat brownish-white, the fore-neck dull light reddish-brown, 

 with obscure dusky triangular spots ; the central part of the 

 concealed portion of each feather light-grey. 



Length to end of tail 10 inches; extent of wings 15; 

 wing from flexure 5i\ ; tail 4^ ; bill along the ridge /^ ; 

 tarsus 1/2 ; middle toe and claw l^^. 



