3044 Tue ZooLocist— May, 1872. 
Under surface of the wing-feathers Under surface of the wing-feathers 
light brown, and all except the uniform gray, rather darker on the 
outer or second feather have near primaries towards the ends. 
the base a white patch about an 
inch in length, forming a broad 
white bar across the wing, when 
it is spread. 
Under tail-coverts white, slightly Under tail-coverts pale brown ; under 
tipped with brown; under surface surface of the tail-feathers uniform 
of the tail-feathers grayish brown, grayish brown, shafts white. 
shafts white. 
Legs and toes pale brown, the claws Legs and toes pale brown, the toes 
rather lighter. rather the darkest; claws dark 
brown. 
JoHN SCLATER. 
Castle Eden Castle, April 9, 1872. 
[I am much obliged for this note; it is exactly what I desired: nothing 
can tend so directly to settle questions of this kind as careful comparison of 
specimens that are authenticated as British. I do not dismiss the question 
of certain Asiatic species visiting Britain; that question has also a great 
interest; but the question to which I more particularly desired attention 
was this:—Are the so-called British-killed specimens of White’s thrush 
identical with the young of our familiar missel thrush? Careful papers like 
this of Mr. Sclater’s will go a good way towards settling this question in 
the negative. 
I am at liberty to mention that Professor Newton is now engaged on a 
very full investigation of the subject, preparatory to the publication of the 
fourth part of his edition of Yarrell’s ‘ History of British Birds,’ which will 
appear very shortly; so that it is desirable that we should be in possession 
of Mr. Newton’s opinion before expressing any of our own. In the mean 
time I shall be greatly obliged for any communications touching the facts 
of the case; for it is quite impossible to obtain too much information on 
any subject if we sincerely desire, as every naturalist must, that our decision 
should be accepted as final —Edward Newman.| 
Variety of the Missel Thrush.—I have added to my collection a variety 
of the missel thrush, which was shot at Strumpsham on the 18th of 
December, and omitted from the “ Ornithological Notes from Norfolk” for 
that month. It is a pale isabel colour, with all the markings on the breast 
quite perceptible—J. H. Gurney, jun.; Northrepps, Norwich, April 22, 
1872. 
=~ 
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