Dr. P. L. Sclater on East em- Asiatic Thrushes. 195 



our horses, and were each set upon by a couple of natives, who 

 seemed to think it impossible for an Englishman to reach the 

 top without hoisting him up. Partially availing ourselves of 

 their assistance, we arrived there after a little trouble (for the 

 grass was wet and slippery), and found ourselves on the brink of 

 a tremendous crater-like gorge, occupied by a bright rainbow, 

 far, far, below us. A magnificent sight it must be in fine weather ; 

 but the clouds filled the valley beneath, so that its bottom was 

 hardly discernible, and clung obstinately to the mountains 

 above, only for a few moments breaking to reveal Pico Grande, 

 the highest point of the island. Being by this time wet through, 

 we thought it advisable to retrace our steps. Riding down hills 

 is generally worse than riding up them. Here it was awful work, 

 but we at last accomplished it without mishap. We returned 

 by a different route, crossing the valley before mentioned much 

 lower down, over a fine bridge and a half-finished causeway 

 leading to a level new road — a gratifying change after the ups 

 and downs we had encountered. I went to visit a gentleman (Dr. 

 O'Herlehy) who, I had been kindly informed by Mr. Johnson, 

 was great bird-fancier, and in whose house I hoped to see ex- 

 amples of the cui'ious variety of the Blackcap [Curruca heinekeni, 

 Jard. & Selby) and other Madeiran birds alive. Unfortunately 

 the Doctor was not at home, and, what made it worse, had the 

 key of his pets with him. Then, following my companions, we 

 went on board ship ; and about an hour after sunset, amid the 

 blaze of blue-lights, the 'Tamar' steamed away, and Madeira 

 vanished into a memory. 

 Elveden, February 28, 1863. 



XX. — Note on the Eastern- Asiatic Thrushes of the Genus 

 Turdus. By P. L. Sclater. 

 In Mr. Swinhoe's paper on the ornithology of Hongkong, 

 Macao, and Canton ('Ibis,^ 1861, p. 23), he mentions "a 

 species of Red-wing, with grey-olive back in the male, and 

 orange-tinted flanks," as " abundant, especially in the Camoens 

 Garden, Macao, where they were nesting." Unfortunately the 

 specimen forwarded to me as supposed to be of this species did 



