RINGED THRUSH. 101 



its winter plumage, which must be of a deeper tint, with the 

 pale margins of the feathers broader. 



The bill is almost exactly the same as that of the Blackbird, 

 being merely a little more attenuated at the point, and having the 

 notch more distinct. The tongue is nine-twelfths of an inch in 

 length. The oesophagus, PI. XIV, Fig. 3, is three inches and 

 a quarter long, with a general diameter of three-twelfths and a 

 quarter. The stomach when empty is oblong, compressed ; its 

 muscles distinct and of moderate size ; when distended, it is 

 broadly elliptical or roundish, its length being eleven-twelfths 

 and a quarter, its breadth nine and a half twelfths. The tendons 

 are radiated, and the inner coat tough, dense, and slightly rugous. 

 The intestine is very wide and rather short, its general diameter 

 four-twelfths of an inch, its length fifteen inches. Behind or 

 above the duodenal fold, is a second fold on the right side ; the 

 intestine then passes up behind the stomach, and descends in 

 a direct course to the anus. The coeca are four-twelfths of an 

 inch long, and one inch from the extremity. The feet are a 

 little larger, but otherwise similar to those of the Blackbird, 

 only that the claws are more curved and blunted. The plum- 

 age is rather compact, and slightly glossed, the feathers oblong, 

 rounded, and distinct. There is a row of bristle-feathers along 

 the base of the upper mandible, and all the feathers about the 

 base of the bill are terminated by bristly points. The wing is 

 broad and rounded, and when closed extends to near the middle 

 of the tail. The quills are eighteen ; the first extremely small 

 and narrow, the third longest, the fourth almost equal, the 

 second a little shorter than the fourth ; the third, fourth, fifth, 

 and sixth cut out on the outer web towards the end. The se- 

 condaries are long, broad, and broadly rounded with a minute 

 tip. The tail is long, slightly rounded, the feathers rather 

 broad, rounded, and acuminate. 



The bill is yellow ; the mouth, basal margins of the man- 

 dibles, and edges of the eyelids orange. The feet olive-brown, 

 the claws blackish-brown. The general colour of the plumage 

 is blackish brown, the wings lighter : the outer margins of the 

 quills and first row of wing-coverts ash-grey. The feathers 

 of the lower parts, and wing coverts, margined with whitisl;- 



