1. GEOCrCHLA. 147 



1. GEOCICHLA. „ 



Type. 



Geocichla, Kuhl (reference unknown *) G. interpres. 



Zoothera, J'i,/ors, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 172 G. monticola. 



Oieoc-incla, Gould, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 145 G. varia. 



Turdulus, Hodffs. Gray's Zool. Miscell. p. 83 (1844) . . G. wardii. 



Cichlopasser, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxx\-iii. p. 6 (1854) . . G terrestiis. 



Chaniiehbis, Ht-ine, Juiini. Oni. 1859, p. 425 G. compsomita. 



Psophociclila, Cah. Journ. Orn. 1860, p. 182 G. siniensis. 



Wing of Geocichla varia. 



The genus Geocichla comprises a well-defined group of forty 

 Thrushes, which may be distinguished as Ground-Thrushes. They 

 are characterized by having the basal portion of the outside 

 web of all the secondaries and of many of the primaries white, 

 occasionally tinted with buff, but abruptly defined from the brown 

 of the rest of the Cjuills. The axiUaries are parti-coloured, the basal 

 half being white, and the terminal half black, slate-grey, or brown. 

 Most of the uuder wing-coverts are similarly parti-coloured, but the 

 relative position of the colours is reversed, the white portion being 

 on the terminal half. This genus is connected with the genus 

 Turdtts through T. viscivoriis and T. musfelimis. In the former 

 the base of the inner webs of most of the quills is white, but 

 gradually shading into, and not abruptly defined from, the brown of 

 the rest of the quills ; the axillaries and under wing-coverts are 

 pure, white. In the latter the axillaries have brown centres, and 

 the under wing-coverts brown bases. These two genera are also 

 connected by the aberrant species of the genus Geocichla. Of these 

 the most aberrant are G. .^imensis and G. litsit.'iinqia, which have 

 the axillaries and under wing-coverts uniform in colour ; but the 

 pale portions of the inner webs of the quills are greatly developed 

 and very abruptly defined. G. jyinicola is also slightly aberrant in 

 having the axillaries a uniform white. 



8o far as I have been able to ascertain, the young in first plumage 

 of every species in this geniis are spotted on the hack and breast ; 

 and I am not aware that the adiilt of any species has a scutellated 

 tarsus, though traces of it are to be found in young G. litsitsirupa. 

 Nor docs any species seem to have a spring moult beyond the replace- 

 ment of a few injured feathers. 



* Said to be in some popular Dutch periodical. 



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