142 PASSERES. TURDID^l. 



of a low branch of a mango-tree. It was a struc- 

 ture of small sticks, loosely woven, in the centre of 

 which the young birds nestled among dried foliage." 



GLASS-EYE.* 



Merula Jamaicensis. 



Turdus Jamaicensis^ GM. Lath. Ind. Or. i. 328. 



Merula leucoplitlialma, HILL. 



THIS is exclusively a mountain bird ; inhabiting 

 the very same localities, and subsisting on the same 

 food as the Solitaire, presently to be described ; the 

 pulpy berries of a Scrophularious shrub, which the 

 negroes thence call Glass-eye berry. I have never 

 found any animal substance in the stomach of this 

 species, numbers of which I have examined; one 

 in December contained many of the little scarlet 

 figs, from the tree on which I shot it : in February 

 the green pimento -berries are devoured by them ; 



* Length 8 inches, expanse 14, flexure 4 ~, tail 3|, rictus 1^, 

 tarsus !, middle toe 1^. Irides bluish white, somewhat pellucid ; feet 

 dark horn, soles yellowish ; beak black, basal half of lower mandible 

 sometimes yellow. Whole head dark umber-brown, except on the chin, 

 where it is speckled with white. Back blackish ash, tinged with brown on 

 wing-primaries : tail blue-black. Breast and sides dusky ash, silky ; 

 separated from the brown of the head by a narrow transverse band of 

 pure white : belly silky white ; under tail-coverts black, with broad 

 white tips. Sexes alike in plumage and size. Intestine 12 inches ; two 

 cseca \ inch long, slender. 



