on Temminck's Whistling Thrush. igg


appearance, although this may be merely a matter of being

more juvenile than the other one.


Myiophoneus temmincki is a native of the Himalayan range

as far as the Tenasserim provinces. Colonel Irby has recorded

in the Ibis that he found it common in Kumaou in May (iS5g),

and adds that it is rather solitary in it’s habits.


Mr. W. E. Brooks (Ibis, i86g) wrote that he saw this bird

several times, generally by rocky and mountain torrents, and

that it’s song is pretty and Thrush-like. He observed these

birds near Myree Tal and Almorah.


Jerdon says that the extent of the wing is 21 inches, and

adds (Ibis, 1872)—“ I have found this bird in various localities

in the N. W. Provinces, viz : near Saharaupore, in the Byuori

district, and also in the Punjab. I found it’s nest near

Mussooree, in a hole in a cliff at the very edge of the Batta

waterfall. It breeds at a height of 8,000 feet, in the end of May.

This beautiful bird is also generally distributed over the lesser

ranges and valleys of Cashmere, where it frequents mountain

streams, and builds a nest like that of a Blackbird, to which in

habits and general appearance it bears a resemblance.


“ It’s note is musical, slow and measured.


“It’s food consists of insects and larvae.”


Gould (Century of Birds') has written that this species fully

equals in size the Myiophoneus flavirostris, and is adorned with

plumage, if possible, still more intense and brilliant in colour.

The principal characteristics however (he adds) which dis¬

tinguish the species from the Javanese bird (M. flavirostris) are

it’s more slender beak, more lengthened tarsi, and a tail longer in

proportion to the dimensions of the body. Gould also records

that M. temmincki is found equally in the warm regions of the

Doon, and the colder temperature of the higher grounds—that

it’s native name is Kuljet, and that it’s habits and actions, when

on the ground, much resemble those of the English Blackbird.


The general plumage is black with azure reflections ; the

forehead and shoulders bright lapis-lazuli blue. Each feather

on the back, as well as on the sides of the neck and chest, is



