TURDI1SLE. 







gape furnished with short bristles; the nostrils lateral, basal, with the opening placed in a small 

 groove, oval, and exposed. Wings moderate and rounded ; with the first quill very short ; the second 

 much shorter than the third, which is rather shorter than the fourth and fifth, and sometimes to the 

 seventh, which are equal and longest. Tail lengthened, broad, and graduated. Tarsi as long as the 

 middle toe, strong, and covered in front with broad scales. Toes rather long ; the outer toe rather longer 

 than the inner, and united at the base ; the hind toe long and strong ; the claws moderate, curved, 

 and acute. 



The species of this genus are found throughout both continents of America, as well as the West Indies and 

 Galapagos Islands. They are migratory, shy, though lively birds, usually seen in the forests, or near the houses, 

 hopping with a quick motion from branch to branch. Some prefer the dry sterile regions near the coast, while others 

 seek the plains and valleys thinly scattered with stunted and thorn-bearing trees. Their food consists of various kinds 

 of insects, berries, and worms. During the spring of the year most of the species possess a most pleasing song, and 

 they are also capable of imitating in the highest degree, even in the wild state, the notes of other birds ; as well as all 

 manner of noises. When pouring forth their song they generally seat themselves upon the elevated twig of a low 

 bush, and usually elevate their tail and spread their wings at the same time. The nest is usually placed in a bush or 

 small tree. It is composed of twigs and sticks intermixed with straw and wool, lined interiorly with fine fibrous roots. 

 The escgs are five in number. 



I. M. polyglottus (Linn.) Wils. Amer. Orn. pi. 10. f 1. — 

 Orpheus leucopterus Vigors. 



2.? M. orpheus (Linn,) Edw. Birds pi. 78., Vieill. Ois. de 

 l'Amer. Septr. t. 68. 



8. ? M. dominions (Linn.) PI. enl. 558. f . 1 Merula domini- 



censis Briss. 



4. M. gilvus (Vieill.) Ois. de l'Amer. Sept. t. 68-* 



5. M. lividus (Licht.) — Turdus orpheus Spix, Av. Bras. t. 71. 

 f. 2. 



6. M. thenka (Mol.) Chili, p. 222. — Orpheus australis Less. 



7. M. calandria (D'Orb. & Lafr.) Azara, No. 223. — Turdus 

 saturninus Licht. Voy. dans l'Amer. Mer. Ois. t. 10. f. 2. ; Orpheus 

 modulator Gould. 



8. M. triurus (Vieill.) N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xx. p. 276. — 

 Orpheus tricaudatus D'Orb. £<; Lafr. 



9. M. trifasciatus (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1837- p- 27., Voy. of 

 Beagle, Birds pi. 16. 



10. M. parvidus (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1837. p. 27., Voy. of 

 Beagle, Birds pi. 1 8. — Orpheus melanotis Gould, Voy. of Beagle, 

 Birds pi. 17. 



II. M. dorsalis (D'Orb. & Lafr.) Av. Syn. p. 19., Voy. dans 

 l'Amer. Mer. Ois. t. 11. f. 1. 



12. M. patagonicus (D'Orb. & Lafr.) Av. Syn. p. 19., Voy. 

 dans l'Amer. Mer. Ois. t. 11. f. 2. 



13. M. plumbeus (Linn.) PI. enl. 560. f. ]., Vieill. Ois. de 

 l'Amer. Septr. t. 58. — Turdus ardosiacus Vieill. 



14. M. Thilius (Mol.) Chili, p. 221. 



15. M. carolinensis (Linn.) Cat. Car. pi. 66. — Turdus lividus 

 Wils. Amer. Orn. pi. 20. f. 3. ; Tr. felivox Vieill. Ois. de l'Amer. 

 Septr. t. 67., Voy. l'lle de Cuba, Ois. t. 7. 



16 M. cwrulescens (Swains.) Phil. Mag. 1827. p. 369- — Tur- 

 dus melanotis Temm. PI. col. 498. 



17. M- rufus (Linn.) PI. enl. 645., Wils. Amer. Orn. pi. 14. 

 f. 1., Vieill. Ois. de l'Amer. Septr. pi. 59. 



18. M. longicaudatus Tschudi, Fauna Peruana, p. 



19. M. j curvirostrix (Swains.) Phil. Mag. 1827. p. 369. — Tox- 

 ostoma veluta Wagl. ; Pomatorhinus turdinus Temm. PI. col. 444. ; 

 Harpes rediviva Gamb. La Perouse Atl. to Voy. t. 37- ; Type of 

 Toxostoma Wagl. 1831. 



20. M. longirostris (Lafr.) Rev. Zool. 1838. p. 55., Mag. de 

 Zool. 1839. Ois. t. 1. 



June, 1847. 



