WESTERN HALF OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. 39 



when better known, exhibit some deviations from the ordinary 

 type of the genus Turdus^ and is therefore referred to it con- 

 ditionally. The bill is much bent towards the point ; the top 

 of the head and nape are bright brown," (figured, and correctly 

 so, a sort of maroon chestnut) ; " the belly, vent, wing-coverts, 

 and spots before and behind the eye, at the base of the lower 

 mandible, and the chin, a yellowish white." 



This, though a poor description, is, coupled with the plate, 

 sufficient to fix the species, in regard to which the following 

 remarks may, I think, be useful :— 



Geocichla avensis, J. E. Gray. 



Like Gr. interpres, hut with the lores and the greater portion of the ear-coverts 

 white, and with no white tippings to the greater wing-coverts. 



This is a remarkable Malayan, or possibly Siamese represent- 

 ative form (running up, it would appear, into Upper Burmah) of 

 the Javan G. interpres (Kuhl), and the Celebean G. erythronota 

 (Sclater") ; agreeing with the former in the dark back, with the 

 latter in the white lores and ear-coverts, and differing, inter alia, 

 from both in wanting the white tips to the greater wing-coverts, 

 and thus exhibiting only one white wing bar. 



The only specimen as yet obtained by us was shot in the 

 hills in the native state of Rumbow, which lies east of the 

 British possessions at Malacca. 



Dimensions (from the skin). — Length, 7"0 ; wino-, 4*25; 

 tail, 2*5 ; tarsus, 1*1 ; bill from frontal bone, 0*82. 



Legs and feet pale yellow ; bill deep brown, yellowish white 

 at base of lower mandible. 



Lores white ; forehead, crown, occiput, nape and sides of 

 the neck, behind ear-coverts, rather bright ferruginous chestnut ; 

 chin more or less white ; throat black, mottled with white, this 

 being the colour of the basal portions of the feathers ; sides 

 of lower mandible (except apparently a tiny white patch) "^ 

 cheeks, tips of upper portion of ear-coverts, and nearly the 

 entire breast, jet black ; rest of ear-coverts (the feathers with 

 very disunited webs) silky white ; rest of lower parts white, 

 sullied on sides and lower tail-coverts ; each feather of the 

 lowest portion of the breast and the upper abdomen, with a 

 conspicuous terminal black spot ; edge of the wing at the 

 carpal joint white; wing lining black, feathers obsoletely 



* The specimen is a poor one, and I cannot make sure about the chin and thi3 

 patch. 



