TURDUS, 13 
The type of Merula (Leach, 1816) is Turdus merula of Europe. 
It differs from the American species I have seen in having the claws 
much longer and less curved. 
Turdus nevius should be removed from its position among the 
Planestici and placed either among Merula, or even assigned to a 
separate division. It agrees with Merwla in the dissimilarity of color 
in the sexes; but differs from all the American true Thrushes in a 
much more subulate and slenderly conical bill, without any notch at 
the tip. The claws are longer and straighter than in 7. migratorius, 
more like typical 7. merula. In form it is perhaps nearer 7. tor- 
guatus than other species of Merula. 
It is somewhat of a question as to what name should be given to 
the section of Turdus, of which nezvius is the type. Bonaparte, 
in his Notes on Delattre, states that Turdus nevius, Gm., is the type 
of his new genus Zxoreus, and that it is not a Thrush at all, but a 
true Teeniopterien. Dr. Sclater, to whom Bonaparte exhibited his 
supposed species, 7. neevius, states (Pr Zool. Soc. 1859, 331) that 
it proved to be the Tenioptera rufiventris, of South America, a 
bird of an entirely different order. Now, on the one hand, Turdus 
neevius, Gm., is positively stated by Bonaparte to be the type of his 
genus Ixoreus. Dr. Sclater, however, explains Bonaparte’s errone- 
ous ideas of its affinities by showing that he had in view an entirely 
different species, a fact which only accidentally comes to light. 
Under these circumstances, if [voreus is not to be applied to nevius, 
must it not be assigned to Tenioptera rufiventris, in case that 
species should need a new generic appellation; or should it be 
dropped altogether? On the whole I am inclined to adopt the latter 
view, and accordingly propose the name Hesperocichla. 
It will be understood, of course, that the preceding arrangement 
of Turdus is only provisional, and merely intended to hint at the 
affinities of the American species. Without a full series of the Old 
World Thrushes, I can only base my notices on the species I have 
before me. 
Hylocichla. 
Turdus mustelinus. 
Turdus mustelinus, GmEuin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 817.—Aupuson, Orn. 
Biog. I, 1832, 372, pl. 73.—Is. Birds Am. III, 1841, 24, pl. 144.— 
D’Ors. La Sagra’s Cuba Ois. 1840, 49.—Barrp, Birds N. Am. 1858, 
212.—Scuater, P. Z. 8. 1856, 294, and 1859, 325.—Is. Catal. 1861, 
2, No. 6. 
Turdus melodus, Wiis. Am. Orn. I, 1808, 35, pl. ii. 
Turdus densus, Bonar. Comptes Rendus, XXVIII, 1853, 2.—Is. Notes 
Delattre, 1854, 26 (Tabasco). 
