456 OEEOCINCLA IMBEICATA. 



members differ from true Turdus in the bill and vary in the number of their tail-feathers. Their wings are 

 those of a typical Thrush and so are their habits. The present species is a typical example of this group. 



Jt was united by Jerdon (' Ibis,' 1872) with the above-named Nilghiri species, inasmuch as he states, in his supple- 

 mentary notes to the ' Birds of India,' that the " Zooihera imbricata of Layard turns out to be Oreodncla nil- 

 ghiriensis." On what evidence this statement was made I am not aware, but it is certain that 0. nilghiriensis is 

 a very distinct species. Mr. Hume avers this, loc. cit., and gives the testimony of Mr. Davison, who is acquainted 

 with the bird in all its stages, concerning the white under surface which is characteristic of it. It is very rare in 

 European collections ; but the magnificent collection of that distinguished ornithologist the late lamented 

 Lord Tweeddale contains a fine example which I have lately had the opportunity of examining. Its measure- 

 ments are : — wing 5-4 inches ; tail 3 - 7; tarsus 1*2 ; middle toe and claw 1*2 ; bill to gape 1-42. It is paler 

 than 0. imbricata on the upper surface, particularly as regards the lower back and rump, and the feathers have 

 their dark tips pervaded by a pale fulvous ray or patch, which is particularly noticeable on the head, hind neck, 

 and rump ; the pale tips of the median and greater wing-coverts are lighter than in our bird and much larger ; 

 the under surface, together with the throat and fore neck, is white, slightly tinted with buff on the sides of the 

 throat and on the lower part of the fore neck ; but the breast and lower parts are pure white ; the terminal 

 markings of the feathers of the chest, upper breast, and flanks are very bold and deep, and the belly is almost 

 unmarked. 



With regard to the specific name of this Thrush, it is evident, from Layard's description of his specimen, that it was 

 no other than the present species ; he writes : — " On the breast the colours are pale rufous-yellow, darkening into 

 deep rufous with very dark brown edge ; vent and under tail- coverts rufous." A specimen was sent some years 

 ago by Mr. H. Xevill, of the Ceylon Civil Service, to Mr. Hume, and the name 0. gregoriana (after Sir Win, 

 Gregory, late Governor of Ceylon) proposed for it, from which I conclude that the fact of its having been 

 already named by Layard was overlooked. 



Distribution. — This fine Thrush was first noticed and described by Layard, loc. cit., from a specimen that 

 he discriminated in the collection of Mr. Thwaites, who was, therefore, its discoverer. Where this gentleman 

 procured it Layard does not mention, but, as a matter of fact, it is found throughout the main range and in 

 the uncleared portions of most of the coffee-districts ; it is decidedly an uncommon bird, and, being verv shv 

 and retiring, almost entirely escapes observation. It is most frequently met with in the high land round 

 Nuwara Elliya and in the wilderness of the Peak ; but I have seen it in Maturata, and procured it in a small 

 wood on Allegalla mountain, where it is not unfrequent, and where Mr. Farr likewise has obtained several 

 examples. Mr. Thwaites informs me that it makes its appearance at the beginning of every year from the 

 surrounding jungle in the Hakgala Gardens, in which the open though secluded ground and the ample shelter 

 of shady conifers afford it a favourite feeding-place. I do not think it descends below an altitude of 3000 feet, 

 at which I procured it at Allegalla, and also observed it in the forest on the Peak above Gillymally. 



Habits. — The Buff-breasted Thrush dwells almost exclusively on the ground, from which it rises, when 

 startled, with a loud flutter, and taking a short irregular flight, suddenly drops again. I have always observed 

 it alone, and have met with it in openly timbered forest and in thick willow-scrub. It appears to feed on 

 insects, which it procures beneath fallen leaves; and Mr. Thwaites informs me that it scratches much in 

 rubbish thrown out at the borders of his plantation, and when flushed betakes itself to a low branch and then 

 disappears into the adjacent forest. 



I can give no particulars as to its nidification. 



The figure in the Plate accompanying my article on 7\trdus spiloptera is that of a female shot in jungle 

 at the summit of Allegalla peak. 



