184: TUEDIDiE, 



between the sixth and seventh, bastard primary 0'8 inch. Length of 

 wing 3-8 inches ; tail 2-6 ; culinen 0-85 ; tarsus 1-07. Legs, feet, 

 and claws pale. 



Nothing is known of any differences of plumage which may be 

 attributed to age, sex, or season. 



Kittlitz's Ground-Thrush is a resident in the Island of Bonin, east 

 of Japan. 



The British Museum does not possess an example of this species. 

 The above description is taken from a specimen in the Leyden 

 Museum. 



2. TURDUS, imn. r^^p^ 



Turdus, Linn. Si/st. Nat. i. p. 291 (17G6) T. viscivorus. 



Avceuthoniis, Knup, Nut. Si/st. p. 93 (1829) T. pilaris. 



Ixocossypliu^, Kmip, Nat. Si/st. p 145 (1829) T. viscivorus. 



Planesticus, Bonap. Cuinpt. Reni. xxxviii. p. 3 (1854) T. jamaiceusis. 



Malaeocichla, Gould, P. Z. S. 1854, p. 285 T. dryas. 



Iliacus, Des Murs, Ool. Ornith. p. 293 (1860) T. iUacus. 



Hylocichla (subgenus), Baircl, Review, p. 12 (1864) . . T. mustelinus. 



The genus Turdus is very closely connected by intermediate links 

 with the genus Merula, but as they both comprise a large number 

 of species, the majority of which possess well-marked characters, it 

 seems advisable to keep them distinct. In all the species of the 

 genus Tardus the pjlumage of the male resembles that of the female, 

 and the throat, breast, and flanks are more or less spotted at all ages. 

 The bill is moderately stout, about the length of the head, some- 

 Avhat widened at the base, and furnished with rictal bristles. The 

 bastard primary rai-ely extends beyond the primary-coverts ; and 

 the wing is generally comparative!)' flat and pointed. The tail is 

 nearly oven, and always consists of twelve feathers. 



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

 of every species in this genus arc spotted on the back and breast ; 

 and I have never found them with a scutellated tarsus, except in the 

 young of one or two species. Tlie spring moult appears to be con- 

 fined to the replacement of a few injured feathers. 



In summer these birds are principally ground-feeders, living upon 

 worms and insects ; but in autumn and winter they chiefly frequent 

 bushes and trees in search of fruit and bei'ries. Their legs and feet 

 are strong and generally pale in colour. 



The spotted plumage of the young is lost on the upper parts at the 

 first autumn moult before migration ; but traces of it can generally 

 be detected on the wing-coverts of birds of the year. 



This genus is by no means cosmopolitan. Five species are known 

 to breed in the Paliearctic region. Two of these encroach upon the 

 Indo-Chinese subregion, which is otherwise unrepresented in this 

 genus, as are also the Indo-Malayan subregion and the entire Austra- 

 lian region. The ^Ethiopian region contributes iiine species, the 

 Nearctic region ten, and the Neotrojucal region twenty-four. 



A comparison of this geographical distribution with that of the 

 genus Merula is an additional argument for the advisability of keeping 

 the two genera distinct. 



