168 MYIOTHERINZ. 
The Little Pied Fly-catcher is stated by Tickell to be rare in 
Central India, and Jerdon surmises that it occurs only during the 
cold weather. 
Famity, Merulide. 
Bill typically moderate, compressed, nearly straight, with the 
culmen gently curved, and slightly notched or entire; in a few 
larger and curved, in some thick and deep; tarsus moderate or 
long ; feet strong, fit for progression on the ground. 
SusB-FAMILY, Myiotherine, Swazns, 
Bill slender, straight, or slightly curved, stout in a few ; wings 
typically short ; feet and legs long and strong; tail short in 
most. 
Genus, Myiophonus, Zemm. 
Bill large, strong, compressed, of moderate length, nearly 
straight, strongly hooked at tip, and slightly notched ; rictal 
bristles almost wanting; nares round, with some frontal plumes 
and hairs at their base ; wing long, rather pointed ; fourth and 
fifth quills nearly equal; fifth longest ; tail moderate, even, or 
slightly rounded ; tarsus long, stout, entire ; feet strong ; middle-toe 
long; laterals short, nearly equal; claws strong, well curved. 
Myiophonus horsfieldi, Vig. 
342.—Jerdon’s Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 499; Butler, Guzerat ; 
Stray Feathers, Vol. III, p. 342 ; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. 
IX, p. 398. 
THE MALABAR WHISTLING THRUSH. 
Length, 11; wing, 6; tail, 475; tarsus, 0°9; bill at front, 
1-25. 
Bill black ; irides dark-brown ; legs brown-black. 
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. 
The Malabar Whistling Thrush is a not uncommon permanent 
resident along the whole of the Sahyadri range ; it occurs also 
at Mount Aboo. The nest, a large structure composed of roots, 
moss, &c., is placed under the shelf of a rock, or in some such simi- 
lar situation. The eggs, three or four in number, are broadish 
ovals, salmon-pink or whitish-pink in color, speckled and spotted 
with brownish-pink. They measure 1:22 in length by about 0:96 
inches in breadth. It breeds during March and April. 
Genus, Pitta, Vierll. 
Bill moderate ; tip slightly forked ; wings moderate; the second 
and third, or third and fourth quills being the longest ; first a little 
shorter than the fourth. 
