85 



Como, which Salvadori is inclined to believe is the present species. It is stated by Naumann 

 and Degland & Gerbe to have occurred in Sardinia ; but this statement is not indorsed by 

 the Italian ornithologists. Althammer mentions two occurrences of the present species in the 

 Tyrol ; and, according to Dr. Anton Fritsch, Herr Lokaj purchased a young male amongst some 

 Fieldfares in the Prague market ; Von Pelzeln states that one in the Vienna Museum was 

 obtained at Anspang in October 1823 ; Dr. Gloger says that it has occurred in Silesia ; and 

 Brehm in Hungary. Dr. Hedenborg says that Sundevall identified a Thrush brought by him 

 from the peninsula of Sinai as belonging to the present species; but there is no record of its 

 occurrence in Africa. 



In Asia the range of the Black-throated Thrush is less extensive than that of Turdus 

 naumannii and Turdus dubius. It was not included by Pallas ; nor has it been met with by 

 any of the later travellers in Eastern Siberia, except by Dr. Dybowski ; and it appears to be 

 restricted more to the western portion of Asia. Dr. SevertzofF, who met with it somewhat 

 numerously in Turkestan, says that it breeds there, and is also met with in the winter ; and 

 Mr. Blanford writes (E. Persia, ii. p. 158) as follows: — "I found the Black-throated Thrush 

 common iu Baluchistan in winter. It was especially so in the miserable apologies for gardens 

 at Gwader, one of the most desolate of inhabited spots on the earth's surface, where I can only 

 explain the occurrence of this bird by the circumstance of its being unable to migrate further 

 south on account of the sea ; and as confirming this view, I may mention that I saw several of 

 these birds on some very cold days in January, when, as we afterwards learnt, all the higher 

 plains in Persia were covered with snow. The birds were very tame, searching for food around 

 the houses on the open sand-downs. Elsewhere I only saw this bird in fairly wooded localities, 

 such as the plains of Pishin and Manel. I, however, did not see it in the much more fertile 

 and better-wooded plains of Bampur and Narmashir ; and I think it probable that before I 

 reached those places, in the commencement of April, these birds had migrated northwards. Nor 

 did either Major St. John or I ever meet with T. atrigularis on the Persian plateau." Dr. Jerdon 

 (B. of India, i. p. 529) says that it is found throughout the Himalayas, inhabiting the higher 

 ranges in the interior in summer, but descending to the lower ranges in winter ; and it is even 

 occasionally found in the plains of Lower Bengal. Mr. Blyth records it as not uncommon near 

 Darjeeling in winter. It keeps to the more open woods at an elevation of from 3000 to 8000 feet, 

 and is occasionally seen on roads and pathways. It feeds both on insects and berries. According 

 to Mr. Blyth it has occurred near Calcutta; and Captain Beavan writes (Ibis, 1870, p. 326) that 

 though he did not meet with it near Umballah, he was informed by Dr. Scott that it was 

 tolerably abundant there in the cold weather, and he obtained several specimens. According 

 to Dr. Dybowski (J. f. Orn. 1872, p. 440) it is rare in Dauria on passage. He first noticed it 

 on the 28th March, and from then until the 15th April. In the autumn of 1870 a specimen 

 was killed early in November; and in the winter of 1871-72 numbers wintered in the valleys of 

 the Baikal district. 



But little is known respecting the habits of this Thrush ; and, indeed, all that I find on record 

 is included in the meagre notes above given. Its nest and eggs are, so far as I can ascertain, 

 quite unknown ; and authentic specimens of the latter are not, I believe, known to exist in any 

 collection. 



Dr. Severtzoff has described (Turk. Jevotnie, p. 118) as new a species of Thrush which very 



