74 



figured in Dresser's ' Birds of Europe.' It resembles very closely the young of the other Thrushes, 

 being profusely spotted on the back and breast." 



Dr. Dybowski, in his excellent notes on the nidification of various species of Arctic birds, 

 communicated to Mr. Taczanowski, writes (J. f. O. 1872, p. 441) as follows: — "This Thrush 

 breeds here (in Dauria), and is tolerably common, appearing in the spring about the 20th May. 

 During the nesting-season it inhabits valleys overgrown with larch, fir, and the cembra pine. It 

 nests on young free-growing fir or larch trees, the nest being placed in a fork or on the boughs 

 near the main stem, at an altitude of about 3 to 5 metres. It is constructed of dried grasses and 

 weeds, worked together with earth, and lined with fine grass and dry larch needles, and is neatly 

 and firmly built. It measures 120 millims. outside diameter, and 100 millims. in height, the 

 diameter of the cup being 90, and the depth 50 millims. Usually it is well fastened to the 

 bough, and is not easy to detach, the more so as the trees on which it is built are usually slender 

 and tall, and the branches thin. Early in June the female lays four or five, seldom six, eggs ; 

 and incubation commences at once. Whilst the female is sitting the male remains at some 

 distance, and, in halting, uncertain, tones utters its by no means melodious song, which consists of 

 a strophe continually repeated; and it sings more industriously in the morning and at sunset. 

 I lie female sits close, but is difficult to shoot on the nest, as it is so hidden in the boughs, and 

 when disturbed she slips off, and does not soon return. When the young are hatched the old 

 birds attack any intruder. The eggs resemble those of the Blackbird and Fieldfare, and are 

 subject to considerable variation, even in the same clutch. The ground-colour is pale blue, blue- 

 greenish, or dirty blue with a yellowish tinge; and the markings consist of violet-brown shell- 

 blotches and dark olive-brown or rusty red surface-spots. The eggs are either irregularly spotted 

 sparingly or profusely, or also closely dotted with small spots; in shape they vary much, are 

 short or long, stout or elongated, and more or less glossy, the pores of the shell being scarcely 

 visible : the measurements are very variable — say 2!) by 17 - 5 millimetres, 25 by 18-5, 23-5 by 17-5, 

 27 by 20, 25-5 by 19-5, 30-5 by 20, 28"5 by 18-5." 



I received one of the clutches of the eggs of this species collected by Dr. Dybowski, through 

 the late M. Verreaux, which closely resemble small, very richly coloured Blackbird's eggs, and 

 do not vary much inter se. 



The present species and Turdus pallidas, Giu. (better known, perhaps, under Temminck's 

 name of Turdus daulias), have been so frequently confused that it is no easy matter to unravel 

 the tangled synonymy. There is, however, no doubt that the present species should bear the 

 name of Turdus ohscurus. Gmelin founded his name on Latham's description (I. c.) of the Dark 

 Thrush, which clearly refers to the present species; for he says that the "general colour of the 

 plumage is brown, the breast inclined to black; over the eye is a streak of white; and the chin 

 and vent are also white." On the other hand, there can be no doubt that Latham's Pale 

 Thrush, on which Gmelin founded his Turdus pallidas, is the species usually known by the 

 name of Turdus daulias, as his description gives the chief characteristics with great fidelity. 



The specimens figured are the adult male and young bird above described. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



