192 



GOLD-VENTED THRUSH. 



Turdus aurigaster, VlELLOT. 



Turdus chrysorJuRiis, TEMMINCK. LESSON. 



HcBmatornis chrysorhceus, SWAIXSON. 



Pycnonotus chrysorhceus, THOMPSON. 



Turdus A Thrush. Aurigaster. AurumGold. Caster 



The belly. 



THIS is an African species, and as such was described by 

 the celebrated Le Vaillant, whose entertaining travels are so 

 well known. As far as appears, it may be rare even in its 

 native country, for only a pair were seen, one of which, the 

 male, was shot by Le Vaillant's companion, Klaas, on the 

 banks of the Grootvis River, in Kamrland; but the other, the 

 female, escaped, his gun being only a single-barrelled one; and 

 though they searched the district for several days, they saw 

 no others, nor even the female again. In all probability, 

 however, the bird may be common in some one or more parts 

 of that vast continent. 



The only other specimen of the Grold-vented Thrush that 

 seems to be on record was shot at Mount Beresford, in the 

 county and near the town of Waterford, in Ireland, in the 

 month of January, 1838, by a boy who was shooting Black- 

 birds, and by whom it was supposed to be one of those birds. 

 Both the season and the locality must alike have been strange 

 to it, for, as was Rizzio's, its 'home is far away,' and on what 

 errand, and through what combination of circumstances it 

 came hither, is beyond the hazard even of a conjecture. 



Male; length, seven inches and a half; bill, black. A 

 rudimentary crest is formed by the feathers of the head when 

 raised, they being slightly elongated. Head on the crown, 

 and neck on the back, and nape, brown. Throat and neck 

 in front, brown, becoming lighter on the breast, which fades 



