522 BIRDS OP INDIA. 



Bill dusky-yellow ; legs yellowish ; irides brown. Length 8^ 

 inches ; wing 4| ; tail 3 ; bill at front \^ ; tarsus Ijq. 



The male of this Blackbird resembles the last ; but differs in 

 wanting the white markings on the upper plumage, being thus 

 more allied to the true * Blackbirds.' 



The male bird has not, to my knowledge, been obtained in India; 

 but the female was procured by Mr. Blyth in the neighbourhood of 

 Calcutta, and, though at first considered distinct, was afterwards 

 referred to Geocichla unicolor as a fully adult or old male. It is 

 chiefly an inhabitant of China and Japan, probably migrating 

 southward during the winter, and will most probably be found in 

 Upper Burmah. The female so much resembles the coloration of 

 Turdus chrysolaus, Temm., Pi. Col., 537, that, judging from the 

 figure alone, I cannot help suspecting their identity. 



Very probably, other species should be included in this group : 

 among others, Turdus sibiricus, Gmel. ( T. leucocillns, Pall.) ; T. 

 mutabilis, Tem., of Java, formerly confounded with the last by 

 Bonaparte ; and, I strongly suspect, Turdus interpres, Kuhl, of Java, 

 which Bonaparte classes as a GeocicJda, and which chiefly differs 

 from T. Wardii, in having a chesnut head and nape. Gray's lurdiis 

 avensis, which Blyth suspects to be allied to Enicurus, appears to 

 me to be the same bird, or is, at all events, a very nearly allied 

 species. Perhaps, also T. terrestris, Kittl., (T. aonnlasckhae^ Gmel., 

 Myiothera passerina, of the Leyden Museum) belongs here. 



Gen. Merula, Leach. 



Char. — Bill slightly lengthened, compressed at the tip, and 

 notched; nostrils feathered at the base ; rictal bristles short and 

 strong ; tarsus of moderate length ; feet strong ; wings long ; 2nd 

 quill shorter than 5th, which is nearly as long as the 3rd and 4th ; 

 tail square or nearly so. 



The ' Blackbirds' form a group of nearly allied species, from most 

 parts of the world, chiefly of black plumage, with yellow or orange- 

 colored bills. They are remarkable for their fine power of voice. 

 We possess three species in India, and Ceylon has another. 



