Capt. F. W. Hutton on the Flight of Birds. 139 



have also, after a still more complete examination, come to the 

 same conclusion; so this species must stand in the ' Birds of 

 ' India' as Turdus viscivorus. 



It is interesting to note that the Kashmir name of this Thrush 

 is Eili-kau or Eili-chettar, meaning Mistle-crow and Mistle- 

 eater. One I killed in Gulraurg measured 11 inches in length, 

 18| in extent of wing. It breeds abundantly both in Kashmir 

 and in the Sutlej valley. 



370. Oreocincla mollissima. 



This Thrush also extends to Kashmir, and has, indeed, been 

 sent from Moupin by Pere David. 



The feathers of the rump in this species are distinctly spinous. 



371. Oreocincla dauma. 



One killed at Darjeeling measured in the flesh 10| inches in 

 length, extent 17|, wing 53., tail nearly 4, tarsus 1|, foot 2. 



A very closely allied bird from Formosa, stated to be larger 

 and somewhat paler, was named O. hancii by Svvinhoe, but is now 

 considered by him identical. 



372. Oreocincla neelgherriensis. 



The Zoothera imbricata of Layard, from Ceylon, turns out to 

 be the same as this bird. 



[To be continued.] 



UNI.— On the Flight of Birds. 

 By Captain F. W. Hutton, C. M. Z. S. 



The mechanism of flight has lately been very fully and ably 

 discussed both in England and on the continent of Europe; but 

 considerable obscurity seems still to exist as to the actual move- 

 ment of the wings of birds when flying. 



Mr. Macgiliivray (' British Birds.' vol. i. p. 43) says that the 

 efi'ective stroke of the wing is delivered downward and backward, 

 and that the resistance of the air bends upward the tips of the 

 feather and in this way gives a forward impulse to the bird. 

 The opinion of the Duke of Argyll appears to be the same 

 {' Reign of Law,' p. 142 &c.) ; but he says (more correctly, I 

 think) that the stroke is delivered directly downward. The 

 experiments of Dr. Pettigrew, however, on sparrows with cut 



