TURDUS. 301 



r.^Has the whole upper plumage olive brown, tinged with slaty 

 and rufescent on the outer webs of the wings and their coverts ; tail with the 

 three outer feathers on each side tipped white j supetcilium, chin and throat 

 buff; a dark stripe on each side of the chin; sides of the head mixed brown 

 and buff ; lower plumage pale buffy white, each feather with a broad tipping 

 of brown ; axillaries white, tipped with brown ; under tail coverts and vent 

 white, splashed with brown. (Gates,) Bill black; irides brown ; legg yellow. 



Length. 9 inches ; wing 4*8 ; tail 3*4; tarsus M ; bill from gape ft. 



Hab. China, Burmah, Sumatra and Java during winter, and, according to 

 Seebohm, has once occurred on the Andaman Islands, It summers in Siberia, 

 breeding in the valleys of the Yenasay and the Lena between lat. 67 and 68, 

 and also near Yokohama in Japan. In Burmah it was got in Karin at an 

 elevation of 2,500 feet. Davison says it goes about in flocks, as many as sixty 

 being seen together. They generally frequent large trees, Like most of the 

 tribe, the Siberian Ground-Thrush feeds on the ground. It is said, however, 

 to be a very shy bird. 



Gen. TurdUS. Linn. 



The revision of this group of birds by Seebohm in the fifth volume of the 

 British Museum Catalogue includes in it the following genera, some long 

 since obsolete. Of the more familiar ones to Indian naturalists may be mention- 

 ed Ixocossyphux (Kaup), Planesttius (Bonap,), and Malacocichla (Gould). 

 Although connected very closely with Merula, it was advisible to keep the 

 latter distinct, as, besides geographical range,- the large number of species 

 which the two genera comprise is an additional argument for the division. The 

 genus Turdus is characterized thus : Bill moderately stout, straight at the 

 base, and gently curving at the tip, somewhat wide at the base, and furnished 

 with short rictal bristles. Wing flat and pointed, the 3rd and 4th primaries nearly 

 equal, the 2nd a little shorter ; the bastard primary rarely extends beyond 

 the primary coverts. Tail of 12 feathers nearly even; tarsus short ; feet mode- 

 rate. The males resemble the females in their plumage, and the throat, breast 

 and flanks are more or less spotted at all ages. The young are spotted on the 

 back and breast. Food insects and berries. The species found in India 

 belong to the palaeartic region and are not residents. 



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