142 



688. Geocichla albigularis. The Nicobar Ground-Thrush. 



Geocichla albogularis, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xvi, p. 146 (1847) ; Hume, 

 S. F. ii, p. 221 (part.) ; id. S. F. iv, p. 289 (part.) ; id. Cat. 

 no. 355 bis (part.) ; Seebohm, S. F. ix, p. 99 ; id. Cat. B. M. v, 

 p. 175. 



Coloration. Resembles G. citrina, sex for sex, but differs in 

 having the chin and throat white, and the lores and cheeks also 

 whitish ; the median wing-coverts are not tipped with white ; the 

 under tail-coverts are much tipped and otherwise marked with 

 greenish or slaty brown ; and the chestnut of the hind neck 

 descends on to the upper back. 



The colour of the bill &c. does not appear to have been re- 

 corded. 



Length about 8-5 ; tail 2'8 ; wing 4 ; tarsus 1-2 ; bill from 

 gape 1-05. 



Distribution. The Nicobar Islands. 



689. Geocichla andamanensis. The Andaman Ground-thrush. 



Geocichla albogularis, Blyth, apud Wald. Ibis, 1874, p. 138 ; Hume, 



S. F. ii, p. 221 (part.), iv, p. 289 (part.) ; id. Cat. no. 355 bis 



(part.). 

 Geocichla andamanensis, Wald. A. M. N. H. (4) xiv, p. 156 (1874) ; 



Hume, S. F. ii, p. 495 j Seebohm, S. F. ix, p. 100 ; id. Cat. B. M. 



v, p. 175. 



Coloration. Resembles G. citrina. Differs in having the forehead, 

 crown, and nape suffused with brown, in having no white tips to 

 the median wing-coverts, and in having the chin white. 



From G. albigularis it differs in having the forehead, crown, 

 and nape suffused with brown, and the throat chestnut. 



Iris umber-brown ; bill horny brown, whitish at base of lower 

 mandible ; legs fleshy white ( Wardlaw Ramsay). 



Length rather more than 8 ; tail 2*9 ; wing 4-1 ; tarsus ! ; 

 bill from gape 1. 



Distribution. The Andaman Islands. 



Genus PETROPHILA, Swains., 1837. 



The genus Petrophila contains those Rock-Thrushes which have 

 a short wing and a comparatively long tail. The males have the 

 under wing-coverts and axillaries entirely of one colour and the 

 lower plumage blue, chestnut, or black, or a combination of these 

 colours. The females have the lower plumage squaniated or 

 irregularly barred and the under wing-coverts and axillaries also 

 barred. 



The Rock-Thrushes frequent open rocky ground and are 

 generally solitary in their habits. They make their nests in holes 

 of walls and rocks. 



