118 TURDIDJE. 



throughout Tenasserim these feathers contain more black and less 

 white, and in this respect approach G. musicus of Java. It is not, 

 however, difficult to find birds in Ceylon and parts of India with 

 these feathers almost entirely black, aud consequently I do not 

 think that this character can be utilized for the separation of the 

 two species. 



"With regard to the other point, Indian and Burmese birds 

 have the under wing-coverts and axillaries almost entirely white, 

 but in the southern parts of Tenasserim some birds are found 

 with these parts more black than white ; but still they cannot be 

 considered to be G. musicus, in which these parts are almost entirely 

 black, and consequently I do not admit this latter species into the 

 Indian list. 



Distribution. Occurs in almost every part of the Empire and 

 Ceylon, ascending the Himalayas up to about 5000 feet ; rare in 

 the extreme North-west and Sind, and probably absent from the 

 Nicobars. 



Habits, Sfc. A common and familiar bird wherever it occurs. 

 This species has many of the habits of the common English Robin, 

 being equally confiding and entering verandahs of houses without 

 fear. It is a fairly good songster, feeds on the ground on insects, 

 and has the habit of raising its tail perpendicularly at the end of 

 its run. This bird breeds from March to July, constructing a 

 rough nest in holes of trees, or walls, or in houses, and laying live 

 eggs, which are greenish marked with reddish brown, and measure 

 about "87 by '66. 



Genus CITTOCINCLA, Gould, 1836. 



The genus Cittocincla contains the Shamas, of which two species 

 inhabit India, one being universally distributed and one confined to 

 the An damans. 



This genus differs from Gopsychus in its longer tail, which con- 

 siderably exceeds the wing in length. The Shamas frequent thick 

 woods and tree-jungle, and feed on the ground. One species at 

 least sings very well, but G. albiventris is said to have no voice. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Abdomen rufous C. macrura, p. 118. 



b. Abdomen white C. albiventris, p. 120. 



064. Cittocincla macrura. The Shama. 



Turdus macrourus, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i, p. 820 (1788). 



Kittacincla macroura (Gm.), Blyth, Cat. p. 165 ; Horsf. Sf M. Cat. 



i, p. 271); Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 116 ; Barnes, Birds Bom.'y. 197. 

 Cittocincla macrura (Gm.), Leyye, Birds Ccyl. p. 437 ; Oates, B. B. 



i, ]). 22 ; id. in Hume's N. Sf E. 2nd ed. ii. p. 86. 



