296 TURD1N/E. 



transverse terminal crescent-shaped black band nearly obsolete on the chin 

 and centre of belly ; under tail coverts white, with obscure brown edges ; 

 axillaries white, tipped with black; under wing coverts white, with black 

 bases ; basal half of inner web of secondaries and of many primaries buff. 

 Bill dark brown, paler at base of under mandible; 3rd and 4th primaries 

 nearly equal and longest ; 2nd between 5th and 6th and 7th. 



Length. 9-5 ; wing 5-1 to 5'6 ; tail 4 to 4-1 ; culmen 092 to ri; tarsus 

 1-25 to 1-45. 



Hab. The Himalayas from Nepaul to Darjeeling and Sikkim, descending 

 into the valleys during winter. 



The Plain-backed Mountain-Thrush feeds like its other congeners on the 

 ground in small parties on the summit of some high hill, flying into brush- 

 wood when disturbed. Food insects and berries. 



361. GeOCichla diXOni, Seebohm, Cat. B. Br. Mus. v. p. 161 ; 

 Oates, B. Br. Burin, i. p. 7. DIXON'S THRUSH. 



Similar to G. mollissima except that the tail is longer, 4-3 to 47 inches; the 

 general colour of the upper parts olive brown instead of russet brown, and the 

 greater and median wing coverts dark brown, edged with buffy brown and 

 tipped with large fan-shaped buff spots ; iris brown ; bill brown ; legs dull 

 brownish yellow. 



Length. 10*5 inches; wing 5-5 ; tail 47; tarsus 1-45 ; bill from gape T2. 



Hab. The Himalayas, where it is said to breed, to Darjeeling. Descends 

 to the plains during winter as far as Central India. Occurs also in Nepaul 

 and Tenasserim. 



GroUp.-ZOOTHER^E. 



362. GeOCichla montiCOla, (Vigors) Seebohm, Cat. B. Br. Mus. v. 

 p. 161. Zoothera monticola, Vig. P. Z. S. 1831, p. 172 ; Gould, Cent. Him. 

 B. pi. xxii. ; Blyth, J. A. S. B. xvi. p. 140 ; Jerd. B. Jnd. i. p. 509, No. 350 ; 

 Godw.-Austen J. A. SB. xli. pt. 2. p. 142 ; Blanford, J. A. S. B. xli. pt. 2, 

 p. 49. The SAW-BILLED GROUND-THRUSH. 



Upper parts dark olive brown, each feather obscurely barred with slate grey ; 

 wings and wing coverts darkish brown, with obscure paler tips to the median 

 and greater coverts ; tail brown, the outermost feathers obscurely tipped with 

 white ; cheeks, sides of the neck and breast brown, with obscure subterminal 

 dark spots on each feather; chin and throat white with dark brown fan- 

 shaped terminal spots on some of the feathers ; flanks brown, the feathers 

 obscurely barred with dark brown ; centre of belly white ; under tail coverts 

 dark brown, tipped with white ; axillaries basally white, terminally dark brown, 

 and narrowly edged with white ; under wing coverts dark brown basally and 



