TURDUS CYANOTIS, (nobis). 

 Slue-bached Thrush. 



PLATE XLVI. 



T. coeruleo-cinereus, capite nucha, pectore abdomineque flavo-ferrugineis, striga. ocu- 

 lari jugulo crissoque albis, duabus fasciis aurium fuscis. 



J.N some recent packages from India, we have received two specimens of 

 this bird, which belongs to the genus Twdus, but which we have been un- 

 able to identify with any of the numerous species hitherto described by 

 Latham or other authors. No particular name was attached to the skins, 

 but it was stated in the reference which accompanied them, that the bird 

 was an inhabitant of the thickest jungles in the interior. It approaches 

 nearest to the description given by Latham of his Turdus citrinus (orange- 

 headed Thrush), which is supposed to be the young of the Ceylon Thrush, 

 or Bachbikiri Shrike ; but this wants the brown marks or streaks upon the 

 ear-coverts, and the white throat, which distinguish our bird. The colour 

 of the back of T. citrinus is also more of a greenish-grey, and the head 

 and breast orange, instead of the ochre-yellow of T. cyanotus. It possesses 

 all the characters of the genus Turdus, as now restricted, and appears to 

 hold that station in it which approximates to the genus Pitta, to which it 

 shows its affinity by the comparative strength of its bill, and the decreasing 

 length of its tail. 



The bill is black ; the space between it and the eye, the throat, and 

 cheeks, white. Ear-coverts white, with two yellowish-brown streaks, or 

 lunules. The crown of head, hind neck, breast and abdomen, are of a 

 deep ochre-yellow. From the lower angle of the base of the under man- 

 dible is a streak of ochre-yellow, which joins that of the breast. The vent 

 and under tail-coverts are white. The back, wings and tail are of a clear 

 bluish-grey : the lower tier of the lesser wing-coverts paler ; the two outer 

 tail feathers have white tips. Legs and toes pale ochreous-yellow. Length 

 8 inches. 



