TIMALIA PILEATA. 



Timalia subolivaceo-fusca, pileo castaneo, gula juguloque albis nigro lineatis, abdo- 



mine sordide testaceo. 

 Dawit, or Gogo-stite of the Javanese. 

 Timalia pileata, Horsf. Syst. Arrangement of JBirds from Java, Linn. Trans, 



Vol XIII. p. 151. 



In the generic description above detailed, I have endeavoured to exhibit 

 clearly those characters by which Timalia is distinguished from Turdus. In a genus 

 so extensive as the latter, a considerable diversity may be expected to exist in the 

 species which belong to it ; and in examining and defining the character of Timalia, 

 I have not depended on recollection, but have actually placed before me as well 

 those species of Turdus which I could obtain, that in affinity come nearest to it, as 

 those that are more obviously distinguished. Of the various species of Turdus 

 which I have examined, the Turdus analis from Java approaches more nearly to our 

 bird; keeping this species in view, I shall enumerate those characters which are 

 peculiar to Timaha. These are a great validity, vertical height, and' compression 

 of the biU in general; a smoothness and uniformity of the sides of the upper 

 mandible, which incline gradually to a broad rounded back or culmen, having a 

 very minute notch ; further, short rounded wings, robust tarsi, comparatively sharp 

 and hooked claws, which on the posterior toe are double the size of those on the 

 intermediate anterior toe. Our Timaha pileata and Turdus analis above men- 

 tioned, although they resemble each other in habit, and distribution of marks, yet 

 when they are brought together for comparison, exhibit an obvious diversity; 

 and I may add, that on the first discovery of our bird in Java, I considered it to 

 belong to a division different from Turdus, and inserted it as svich in the notices of 

 my Researches. A bird recently sent from Sumatra by Sir Stamford Raffles, 

 and belonging to the Museum of the Honourable East India Company, has in 

 some degree confirmed my original conclusions. It strikingly agrees in many cha- 

 racters with our Timalia pileata. Its bill has a similar character. It has the same 

 breadth of back, or culmen, the minute notch, the short rounded wings, and the 

 same character of the feet and claws. The sides of the vipper mandible are equally 

 smooth and uniform, but it is less elevated. I have described and figured it with 

 the name of Timalia gularis ; and to afford the means of a careful comparison, I 

 have represented, with all possible accuracy, on the Plate of Illustrations, both the 

 bill of Timalia pileata and of Timalia gularis. 



