1 2 8 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



238. TurdUS GuttatUS, Vigors ; Proc. Z. S, 1832, 

 PI. 62 ; Smith, Z. S. A., PI. 39. 



Upper parts, rich yellowish-brown ; eyebrows and sides of 

 the head dirty white ; the latter with three umber-brown 

 stripes ; under parts white, spotted with good-sized umber- 

 brown spots ; two white bars across the wings when at rest ; 

 tail yellowish-brown ; the three lateral feathers on each side 

 broadly tipped with white. Length, 9" 6'" ; wing, 4" 10'"; 

 tail, 4". 



Dr. A. Smith procured a few specimens of this thrush in the forests 

 which border upon Port Natal. 



239. TurduS ObsCUrUS, Smith ; Zool. S. A., Pi 

 36 ; T. Smiihii, Bp. Cons. Av., p. 274. 



Upper parts, greyish-brown, of different shades ; belly red- 

 dish-orange ; breast rather lighter than the back ; throat 

 still lighter ; bill, legs, and claws, jellow. Total length, 9^" 

 wing, 5" 2"'. 



Dr. And. Smith procured this species towards Delagoa Bay, on the 

 East Coast. He says " it is a soHtary bird, inhabiting damp, secluded 

 thickets and brushwood skirting the banks of rivers, and is generally 

 seen in such localities actively employed in displacing the decayed 

 vegetation, which occurs upon the surface of the soil, covering the 

 insects and worms upon which it feeds." 



I have received specimens from Mr. E. Mofifat, killed in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Kuruman. 



240. Turdus Olivaceus, Cuv., Vol. i, p. 387 ; 



T. Ochrogaster, Sparm. ; Le Griverou, Le Vail., PI, 98, 



99. 

 All the upper parts, very dark olive-brown ; throat 

 underneath, dirty white, speckled with daik-btown ; breast 

 cinereous-brown ; belly and flanks, deep rufous ; vent, dirty 

 white ; a few dark -brown spots are distributed on the chest, 

 flanks, and vent ; upper mandible horn-colour ; lower man- 

 dible and legs orange. Length, 10" ; wing, 4" 9'" ; tail, 

 3" 9'". 



At some seasons of the year, when fruit is ripe and apples and 

 pears fall off the trees, and rot on the ground, this thrush may be 

 found in great abundance in the orchards about Bondebosch. It 

 utters no song, but only a short hurried cry when alarmed, and fly- 

 ing upward to the topmost branches of the thickest trees, amid which 

 it endeavours to conceal itself. If unsuccessful in this, it launches 

 itself off and makes for the nearest thicket, — its voice and manner 

 reminding the observer of the European blackbird. It breeds in thick 



