134 TURDIDJE, 



of the second, aud f^encrally rather more than half ; the second 

 primary is about equal in Icng-th to the secondaries. The tail is 

 considerably rounded, the outside feathers being only from two thirds 

 to five sixths the length of the longest. The tarsus and feet are 

 very robust ; the former more or less distinctly scutellated in 

 front. The feathers of the rump are usually much developed. The 

 predominant colours are russet-brown and olive-brown, many of the 

 species having the head of a redder and richer colour than the rest 

 of the upper parts. So far as is known, most of the species lay eggs 

 of a uniform brick-red colour. Most of the species have very rich 

 and melodious voices, but very poor powers of song. 



The centre of distribution of this genus is the Himalayas, where 

 five of the species breed ; of these, two extend their range to Chinese 

 Thibet. Four other species appear to be peculiar to China and 

 Japan, and one to Manchooria ; whilst the remaining species breeds 

 in Turkestan and winters in 8cinde, extending its range westwards 

 to the Mediterranean, throughout the shores of which inland sea it 

 appears to be a resident. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Head uniform in colour with the rest of the 

 upper parts. 

 a'. ■ Upper parts russet-brown. 



o". General colour of under^mrts white, 

 shading into greyish brown on the breast 



and flanks cetti, p. 135. 



h". General colour of imderparts pale huffish 

 brown, shading into buffish brown on 



the breast and flanks fortipes, p. 1.3G. 



h'. Upper parts olive -brown. 



c". General colour of underparts yellow, 

 shading into buff on the breast and 



flanlfs Jlavolivacea , p. 138. 



d". General colour of underparts white, 

 shading into brown on the breast and 

 flanks. 

 «'". Wing one fifth longer than the tail. . palliflipes, p. 139. 

 //". Wing shorter or not more than one 

 tenth longer than the tail. 

 «■'. Upper parts olive-green. Tail equal 



to or longer than the wing cantans, p. 139. 



6*. Upper parts olive-brown. Tail equal 



to or shorter than the wing .... cantans minuta, p. 140. 

 h. Head darker, richer, and more russet in celonr 

 than the rest of the upper parts. 

 e". Breast suffused with huffish brown. 

 c'". Tail about one tenth shorter than the 

 wing, 

 c*. Length of wing 2-4 to 2"2 inches . . mhivfa, p. 141. 

 fZ'. Length of wing 3-1 to 2-8 inches . . cantitrians, p. 141. 

 d'". Tail little more than half the length 

 of the wing. 



e*. Back olive-brown vsmrianvs, p. 143. 



f*. Back rich chocolate-brown fqwimicrpx, p. 142. 



