Order PASSERES.] [Fam. SYLVIIDjE. 



MIRO ALBIFRONS. 



(SOUTH-ISLAND ROBIN.) 



White-fronted Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn. ii. pt. 1, p. 71 (1783). 



Turdus albifrons, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 822 (1788). 



Miro albifrons, Gray, in Dieff. Trav. ii., App. p. 190 (1843). 



Petroica albifrons, Gray, Voy. Ereb. and Terror, p. 7, pi. 6. tig. 2 (1844). 



Turdus ochrotarsus, Forster, Descr. Anim. p. 82 (1844). 



Muscicapa albifrons, Ellman, Zool. 1861, p. 7465. 



Native names. 

 The same as those applied to the preceding species. 



tj similis M. longipedi, sed multo major et magis fuliginosus, scapis plumarum minus distincte albis : sed prse- 

 cipue pectore et abdomine medio ochrascenti-albis distinguendus. 



Adult male. Head, neck, sides of the body, and all the upper surface dark sooty grey, the base of the 

 feathers plumbeous ; at the root of the upper mandible a small spot of yellowish white ; breast, abdo- 

 men, and vent yellowish white, tinged with lemon-yellow on the breast, and forming a tolerably well- 

 defined line against the dark plumage of the fore neck ; inner lining of wings, flanks, and under tail- 

 coverts greyish white ; quills and tail-feathers smoky black ; an oblique bar of white on the inner face 

 of the wings, as in M. longipes. Irides black ; bill brownish black ; palate and soft parts of the mouth 

 yellow ; tarsi, toes, and claws dark brown ; soles of the feet dull yellow. Total length 7-25 inches ; 

 wing, from flexure, 4 ; tail 3 ; bill, along the ridge 'Go, along the edge of lower mandible "85 ; tarsus 1*5 ; 

 middle toe and claw T05 ; hind toe and claw "9. 



Female. Somewhat smaller than the male, and having the plumage of the upper parts tinged with brown ; 

 there is less yellow on the breast, and the grey of the underparts is lighter. 



Obs. This species may readily be distinguished from M. longipes by its appreciably larger size, its darker 

 coloration, and the more defined patch of yellowish-white on the under surface. The white shaft-lines 

 are not so distinct on the crown and nape, but are far more so on the throat and fore neck, owing to 

 the ground-colour of these parts being darker than in M. longipes. The frontal spot is smaller and less 

 conspicuous. 



Note. The figure of this species in the ' Voyage of the Erebus and Terror' is incorrect, on account of the 

 exaggerated extent of white on the underparts ; but the attitude is a very characteristic one. 



The habits of this bird differ in no respect from those of its near congener Miro longipes ; and 

 the account given in the foregoing pages may be considered equally applicable to both species. 



