182 



38. Geocichla litsitsirupa. 



Merula litsitsirupa, Sniit/i, R,'p. S. Afr. Ktp., App. p. 45 (1836). 

 Turdiis sti-epitans, Smith, 111. Zool. 8. Afr., Ares, pi. xxxvii. (1839) ; 

 Grctii, Gen. H. i. p. 219 (1847) ; lip. Consp. i. p. 269 (1850) ; 



Psophocichla strepitans {Smith), Cab. Journ. Oni. 1860, p. 182. 

 Turdus litsitsirupa {Smith), Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. p. 20 (1871); 



Gurney*, Anderssoih B. Dam. Ld. p. 114 (1872) ; Buckley, Ibis, 



1874, p. 369 ; Shelley *, Ibis, 1875, p. 73 ; Sharpe, ed. Layard's B. S. 



Afr. p. 198 (1876) ; Barratt, Ibis, 1876, p. 201 ; Ayres, Ibis, 1877, 



p.' 343, 

 In tie adult male in spring plumage the general colour of the 

 upper parts is ash-grey, shading into pale ash-grey on the upper 

 tail-coverts and into brownish grey on the head ; the feathers of 

 the head and upper back with obscure dark centres ; lores pale buff ; 

 feathers behind the eye and ear-coverts pale buif, tipped with black ; 

 quills dark brown, the basal half or more of the inner webs pale 

 chestnut ; wing-coverts and innermost secondaries brown, with 

 narrow jjale margins ; tail dark brown, with narrow pale tips. 

 Underparts nearly white, the feathers on the cheeks, breast, and 

 flanks with bold black pear-shaped terminal spots, which diminish 

 in size on the belly, and disappear altogether on the chin, throat, 

 centre of belly, and under tail-coverts ; axillaries and under wing- 

 coverts buff. Bill nearly black, pale at the base of the under mandible. 

 Wine with the second, third, and fourth primaries nearly equal and 

 longest ; 1)astard primary 0-8 to 0-6 inch. Length of wing 5-3 to 4-9 

 inches, tail 2-95 to 2-65, culmen 1-15 to 0-99, tarsus 1-5 to 1-35. 



There appears to be no difiereuce between the sexes, or between 

 summer and winter plumage. Birds of the year are unknown. 

 Y(viji(/ in first 2}lt'i'^('ge have pale centres and dark terminal bands 

 to the feathers of the back, and pale tips to the wing-coverts and 

 innermost secondaries. 



The South-African Ground-Thrush is found in South Ecnguela, 

 Damara Land, Great Namaqua Land, the Bechuana Country, the 

 Orange Free State, the Transvaal, and Natal. In Damara Land it 

 breeds in October, and is said to be only partially migratory. 



a. Ad. St. Damara Land. C J. Andersson, Esq. [C.]. 



b. Ad. sk. Kuruman (Layard). R. B. Sharpe, Esq. 



c. c? ad. sk. Transvaal {Ayres). Tl. B. Sharpe, Esq. 



d S ad. sk. Elands R., Transvaal (F. C. G. & W. Gates, Esqrs. 

 Gates). [P.]. 



e. S ad. sk. Potchefsti-oom, Transvaal. F. A. Barratt, Esq. [C.]. 



f. 2 ad. sk. Elands E,., Transvaal {F. C. G. & W. Gates, Esqrs. 

 ■ Oates). [P.]. 



f/. 2 ad. sk. Transvaal {Ayres). R. B. Sharpe, Esq. 



)', i. d 2 ad. sk. Tati, Matabele Laud {F. C. G. & W. Oates, Esqrs. 



Oates). [P.]. 



^■_,;7. 1^ 2 ad. Otjimbinque, Damara Land R. B. Sharpe, Esq. 



& juv.sk. {Anderssmi). 



w. 2 ad. sk. Capaugombe, AncLieta. R. B. Sharpe, Esq. 



* Misspelt letsitsirupa. 



