II. D. Astley—A Chinese Whistling Thrush



71



A CHINESE WHISTLING THRUSH


By H. D. Astley


I have lately purchased a nice specimen of the Chinese Whistling

Thrush, which I take to be Myiophon$ks ceeruleus. Some of our

members will recall the account of my M. lemmincki, which lived for

about eighteen years, and which was originally reared from the nest in

Cashmere by Mr. Ezra. M. ceeruleus is a'size smaller and has a black

bill in place of a yellow one. The general colour is much the same in

both species ; a very deep purple (rather than blue), with a silvery

metallic glazing to the tips of the body feathers. There is a detailed

description— Avic. Mag., Vol. VII, 1900-1, pp. 210, 211 (Phillipps)—

so that I think it is not necessary to repeat it, except to say that the

shoulders have a patch of brighter purplish blue. It is a moot point as

to whether the genus MyiopJioneus should be included in the family

of Thrushes. Mr. Seebohm does not do so in his monograph of the

Turdidee. To my mind these Whistling “ Thrushes ” are much nearer

that family than to any other, although a very distinct offshoot.

They are birds which inhabit mountainous districts where there are

boulders and torrents, and there can be heard their melodious whistle,

which is rather human in tone, but not very varied.


My present bird is extremely tame, as was my M. temmincki ;

indeed, the latter was positively ferocious. These Whistling Thrushes

are stoutly built and larger than a Missel Thrush. Specimens are very

seldom imported ; they could not be trusted in an aviary with small

birds. I remember my chagrin when a Robin slipped through the bars

of my Temminck’s Thrush’s cage and was promptly torn to pieces.


For an illustration and account of this bird cf. Avic. Mag.. N.S.,

Vol. I, 1902-3, p. 196, etc.



NOTES ON VARIOUS BIRDS


By R. Whitlaw '


Encouraged by the Editors’ appeal for copy, I venture to submit a

few notes on various birds which have at one time and another

inhabited my small aviary.



