236 MERULID^E. 



different species, as comparisons of the figures and descrip- 

 tions appear to me to prove. These African and Indian 

 Thrushes have been grouped to form various genera ; the 

 African species included by Mr. Swainson in his genus 

 Hcematornis, appear to be closely allied in characters to 

 those of the genus Ixos of M. Temminck, as given in the 

 fourth part or volume of his Manual, page 606, one species 

 of which, called Ixos obscurus, has, according to M. Tem- 

 minck, been found in Andalusia, where it is said to be 

 common, and that it also inhabits North Africa. Of this 

 bird I have seen a drawing in the possession of Mr. Gould, 

 and, from the representation, this species has all the ap- 

 pearance of belonging to the same group as the Ixos plebeius 

 of Dr. Ruppel, found in North Africa, and those of Le 

 Vaillant from South Africa. Of the habits of the Culdor, 

 or Gold-vented Thrush, as before mentioned, nothing is 

 known that I am aware of. 



The beak black ; the irides probably dark brown ; the 

 head, neck, back, wings, and tail-feathers, uniform umber 

 brown ; the feathers on the forehead and crown slightly 

 elongated, forming a crest when elevated, the plumage of 

 the whole head being a shade darker in colour than those 

 of the body ; throat and neck in front clove brown, be- 

 coming lighter on the breast, and passing into a dull white 

 on the belly ; vent and under tail-coverts brilliant king's 

 yellow ; legs, toes, and claws, black. The whole length of 

 the bird seven and a half inches ; the wing, from the 

 anterior joint to the end of the longest quill -feather, three 

 and a half inches ; the first qufl.1 -feather very short, about 

 one inch in length ; the second three-quarters of an inch 

 longer than the first, but shorter than the third : the fourth 

 feather the longest in the wing; the tail very slightly 

 forked. 



