MYIOTHERIN^. 499 



342. Myiophonus Horsfieldii, Vigors. 



P. Z. S., 1831— Gould, Cent. Him. Birds, pi. 20 — Jerdon, 

 Cat. No. 79— Bltth, Cat. 927— Horsf., Cat. 282 



The Malabar Whistling Thrush. 



Descr. — General plumage black, more or less tinged with deep 

 blue ; a band on the forehead, not extending to the base of the 

 bill, and shoulders, fine shining cobalt or smalt-blue ; some of 

 the feathers of the breast and abdomen edged with the same. 



Bill black ; legs brown-black; irides dark brown. Length 11 

 inches ; wing 6 ; tail 4| ; bill at front (through pendal plumes) 

 1^ ; tarsus ^. 



This fine Thrush is found throughout all the forests of Southern 

 and Western India, from near the top of the Neilgherries (6,000 

 feet) to almost the level of the sea. It is not found on the plateau of 

 the Neilgherries, but at Coonoor, Kulhutty, Kotagherry, &c. It is 

 common in Coorg and the Wynaad, and prefersmoderate elevations ; 

 but I have killed it in Malabar at the foot of the chain of shats. 

 I have also seen specimens from the Pulney Hills, and Travancore ; 

 but it is not found in any of the forests of the Eastern Ghats, nor 

 in Central or Northern India. It especially delights in mountain 

 torrents, and if there is a water-fall, it is sure to be found there. 

 It feeds on various insects, earth-worms, slugs, shells, and also on 

 small crabs, which I have very frequently found constituting its 

 chief food ; and the remains of legs, &c., of these Crustacea are 

 generally found on the rocks at the edge of ever}^ pool of water 

 frequented by it. I once procured its nest, placed under a shelf 

 of a rock on the Burliar stream, on the slope of the Neilgherries. 

 It was a large structure of roots, mixed with earth, moss, &c., and 

 contained three eggs of a pale salmon or reddish-fawn colour, with 

 many smallish brown spots. I kept a bird, which I had wounded 

 slightly, for some weeks, feeding it on earth-worms and snails, and 

 eveiy morning before sunrise I would hear its fine whistle. Its 

 song consists of four or five beautifully clear whistling notes, so 

 like the whistle of a man or boy, as to be constantly mistaken 

 for it ; and it is known to many on the Neiliiherries as the 

 Whistling Thrush. It would be a highly desirable and interesting 



