510 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Macronous, Dymocataphus, Turdhius, Setorjiis^ and Turdlrosimm. 

 Two of these have representatives in India, and their situation in 

 the natural system will be considered hereafter. 



Sub-fam. Merulin^, True Thrushes. 



Sny. Tui-dmce, Gray and others. 



Bill of moderate length, rather stout, narrow throughout, com- 

 pressed at the tip ; culmen straight at the base, slightly curved at 

 the tip, and notched ; nostrils basal, exposed ; gape with a few 

 very slight rictal bristles; wings tolerably long and broad, some- 

 what pointed ; 1st quill very small, 3rd and 4th usually sub-equal 

 and lont.'est ; tail moderate, nearly even ; tarsus of moderate length, 

 the anterior scutse more or less united ; toes long and stout, lateral 

 toes nearly equal ; claws moderately curved, stout. 



The birds composing this sub-family, the Thrushes and 

 Blackbirds, are found in every part of the world. They arc 

 mostly of plain and sombre colours, many black ; others brown, 

 spotted beneath ; in one group more or less blue. They are 

 chiefly sylvan in their habits, frequenting woods and gardens, a 

 few only preferring open country. They feed usually on the 

 ground, on which they hop, their chief food being insects, mollusks, 

 and earthworms; with several (especially in winter), also fruits and 

 berries. At this season, too, several are gregarious. Their flight is 

 somewhat undulating, but strong and vigorous. 



The true Thrushes unite to the Myiotlieiincs, as already noticed ; 

 they also appear to join, on the other side, with the Timalincs by 

 means of some of the American short-winged Thrushes, such as 

 Mimus ; and to pass into the SaxicoKncB by some of the African 

 Thrushes related to Orocetes : viz., Bessonornis and others. 



The first group comprises the Blue Rock-thrushes (which may 

 be called the Saxicoline Tlirushes) and their affines. 



Gen. Petrocosstphus, Boie. 



Syn. Petrocincla, Vigors. Kock-thrushes. 



Char. — Bill moderate or rather long, slender, straiijht, moder- 

 ately hooked at the tip, entire, or with a faint indication of a 

 notch ; nostrils round, apert, with the frontal plumes advanced 

 to their base ; rictal bristles short, numerous ; wings long, some- 



