LAEVIYOEA BEUNNEA. 447 



05s. This interesting genus appears to form a link between the Saxicoline birds and the true Thrushes. It only 

 differs from Tardus in its small size, slightly straighter and less notched bill, and shorter tail. Its habits are 

 essentially those of a forest-loving Thrush, resembling such in its mode of feeding and progression, its flight, and 

 its style of song. 



At the time that Hodgson named this bird L. cyana, he perhaps did not know that Pallas had already applied a term 

 of similar meaning (cyane) to the Siberian and Chinese species, or he would not surely have employed a title which 

 sounded so much like a previously bestowed one. It has been in vogue up to the present by Indian writers ; but 

 I propose here to discard it, as it is, in my opinion, inexpedient to use a specific name of similar sense to, aud only 

 differing in its terminal letter from, an already existing one ; and I will take the opportunity of mentioning that 

 Mr. Sharpe approves of my decision. The specific name, it is true, is not very applicable to the male bird of the 

 present species ; but there are, I think, precedents for such a departure from strictly applicable nomenclature. 

 Mr. Swinhoe procured the true L. cyane in China, and named it L. gracilis (' Ibis,' 1861, p. 262), as Mr. Blyth, to 

 whom he sent his specimen, pronounced it to be distinct from Hodgson's bird ; and it was not until four years 

 later that he recognized in Pallas's figure of Lusciola cyane (pi. x. ' Travels in Eastern Siberia ') his Chinese bird. 



The male of Larvivora cyane has the upper surface dark blue, the forehead and above the eye brighter than the head ; 

 wings and tail brown, edged with dull blue ; chin, fore neck, and under surface pure white, separated from the 

 blue of the head and hind neck by a broad black border, which starts from the lores, covering the cheeks, face, 

 and ear-coverts, and descending the sides of the neck to the flanks. Length 4-6 inches, wing (in seven examples) 

 varying from 2-8 to 3 - 0. An immature male (September) has the head and hind neck brown ; back and rump 

 dull blue ; beneath whitish, washed with rufous-buff on the sides of the throat and chest ; the cheeks barred with 

 dusky grey : a female (May) is olive-brown ; under surface whitish, washed with buff ; the feathers of the sides 

 of the throat and across the chest tipped with dusky grey ; wing 2-75. These examples are in the " Swinhoe 

 collection," forming part of Mr. Seebohm's museum. It is found in Tenasserim, as well as in China and Eastern 

 Siberia. 



Distribution. — This handsome Chat is a migrant to our hills, arriving in the island about the middle of 

 October and departing again in April. Being a bird of weak flight its migration to the Kandyan Province, 

 takes place by a gradual movement through the jungle from the extreme north, where it first appears. There 

 Layard procured specimens in October 1851, and in the same month in 1873 I obtained a male example 

 in the jungles surrounding Trincomalie. It is chiefly located in the upper hills or main range, being very^ 

 common in the Horton Plains and throughout all the Nuwara-Elliya district ; lower down it is found in all 

 the surrounding coffee-districts, including the Knuckles or trans-Kandyan hills as low as 3000 feet. In the 

 eastern parts of Uva it is not common, the great expanse of patnas below the plateau and the deep valley of 

 Badulla probably proving a barrier to its progress. In the southern hills I never met with it ; but it was 

 probably overlooked by me, as there is no reason to suppose that some individuals do not cross the Saffragam 

 valley to the Morowak and Kolonna Korales. It is worthy of remark that it comes to us largely in the young 

 stage ; and I have likewise observed that females predominate. 



Concerning its distribution in India, Jerdon remarks that it is found in the Himalayas from Cashmere to 

 Sikhim, and in the cold weather extends in small numbers to the plains, for it is procured near Calcutta. 

 It is also an inhabitant of the Nilghiris. He met with it in a mango-grove at Nellore in the month of March, 

 at which time, as he suggests, it must have been migrating northwards. It appears to be resident in the 

 Nilghiris, as it breeds there. Dr. Fairbank mentions it as being found in Mahabaleshwar, which has an altitude 

 above the sea of 4700 feet, and on the Goa frontier ; but he does not say at what season of the year he met 

 with it. 



Habits. — This retiring little bird is almost wholly terrestrial in its habits, dwelling in nilloo and other 

 dense undergrowth of the hill-forests, and now and then coming out into hedges and thick cover in gardens 

 which are in proximity to the jungle ; it even then covets the shelter which its life in the forest normally 

 affords it, only showing itself for a moment or two, and then retreating. It is often seen at the edge of 

 forest-path searching for insects; but it quickly disappears into the adjacent thickets on the least alarm. The 

 Hakgala Gardens are suitable to its habits ; here it finds a welcome shelter beneath the choice conifers and 

 handsome shrubs with which the enclosure abounds, and searches for its food in the well-kept soil. It proceeds 

 along the ground or over prostrate dead wood with quick hops, and darts actively about, alighting on low sticks 



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