168 MYIOTHERIN.E. 



The Little Pied Fly-catcher is stated by Tickell to be rare in 

 Central India, and Jerdon surmises that it occurs only during the 

 cold weather. 



FAMILY, Merulids9. 



Bill typically moderate, compressed, nearly straight, with the 

 culmen gently curved, and slightly notched or entire ; in a few 

 larger and curved, in some thick and deep ; tarsus moderate or 

 long ; feet strong, fit for progression on the ground. 



SUB-FAMILY, Myiotherinse, Swains. 



Bill slender, straight, or slightly curved, stout in a few ; wings 

 typically short ; feet and legs long and strong ; tail short in 

 most. 



GENUS, Myiophonus, Temm. 



Bill large, strong, compressed, of moderate length, nearly 

 straight, strongly hooked at tip, and slightly notched ; rictal 

 bristles almost wanting ; nares round, with some frontal plumes 

 and hairs at their base ; wing long, rather pointed ; fourth and 

 fifth quills nearly equal ; fifth longest ; tail moderate, even, or 

 slightly rounded ; tarsus long, stout, entire ; feet strong ; middle-toe 

 long ; laterals short, nearly equal ; claws strong, well curved. 



Myiophonus horsfieldi, Vig. 



342. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 499 ; Butler, Guzerat ; 



Stray Feathers, Vol. Ill, p. 342 ; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. 



IX, p. 398. 



THE MALABAK WHISTLING THRUSH. 



Length, 11 ; wing, 6 ; tail, 475 ; tarsus, 0'9 ; bill at front, 

 1-25. 



Bill black ; irides dark-brown ; legs brown-black. 



General plumage black, more or less tinged with deep-blue ; a 

 band on the forehead, not extending to the base of the bill, and 

 shoulders fine, shining cobalt or smalt-blue ; some of the feathers 

 of the breast and abdomen edged with the same. 



The Malabar Whistling Thrush is a not uncommon permanent 

 resident along the whole of the Sahyadri range ; it occurs also 

 at Mount Aboo. The nest, a large structure composed of roots, 

 moss, &c., is placed under the shelf of a rock, or in some such simi- 

 lar situation. The eggs, three or four in number, are broadish 

 ovals, salmon-pink or whitish-pink in color, speckled and spotted 

 with brownish-pink. They measure 1*22 in length by about 0*96 

 inches in breadth. It breeds during March and April. 



GENUS, Pitta, Vieill. 



Bill moderate ; tip slightly forked ; wings moderate ; the second 

 and third, or third and fourth quills being the longest ; first a little 

 shorter than the fourth. 



