138 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



D. — Sexes alike ; lower plumage barred or spotted even in 

 adults. Genus Oreocincla. 



(1) Bill large and coarse ; upper plumage with 

 darker margins ; lower plumage tawny-buff 

 with black crescent-shaped bars. 



Oreocincla imbricata (Ceylon Thrush). 



(2) Bill more moderate ; upper body plumage and 

 tail unmarked brown ; lower plumage white 

 ■with black spots. 



0. Spiloptera (Spotted-wing Thrush). 



E. — A slight difference in sexes ; plumage mainly dark blue 

 or brown suffused with blue ; a bright blue patch 

 on the " elbow " of the wing, 



Arrenga hlighi (Bligh's Whistling Thrush). 



F. — Sexes markedly different ; tarsus noticeably shorter 

 than in other genera ; plumage pied ; males vivid 

 blue and black ; females brownish-blue and brown. 

 Irena puella (Fairy Bluebird). 



Merula kinnisi. 



The Ceylon Blackbird. 



Merula kinnisi (Oates, Vol. II., p. 124) ; Turdus kinnisi (Legge, 

 p. 449). 



Description. — Male : Upper plumage, including wings and 

 tail, slaty-black, each feather with slightly paler bluish-gray 

 margins, most noticeable on the wings and wing coverts ; 

 lower plumage slightly rusty-black ^\ith paler margins, the 

 abdomen tinged with grayish. 



Female : Upper body plumage dark bluish -gray, with 

 blackish markings towards the tips ; wing quills and tail 

 slightly browner than in the male ; under parts tinged with 

 earthy-brown ; in some, probably not fully adult specimens, 

 the feathers of the abdomen have light shaft -streaks. 



In young birds the head and hind-neck are brownish, and 

 the upper plumage has a distinct bluish gloss ; the lower 

 plumage is dull brown, with buff shaft-streaks and dark tips. 



Bill orange -yeUow ; iris pale brown ; legs and feet pale 

 yellow ; in young birds the bill and legs are brownish. 



