аана ———— [TT - пашана 
14 
not quite so long as the primary-coverts; these are exceptional cases, which are not known to 
occur in the Australian species. Тһе two species are, however, quite distinct, not only in their . 
geographical ranges, but also in some of the minor details of their coloration. (6. heini has more 
white on the inner web of the outermost tail-feathers (the white tip extending for more than an 
inch), and G. milgiriensis has very distinct (pale russet-brown) sub-terminal bars across the feathers of 
the crown. It is impossible to confound either bird with any other species in the sub-genus, though 
from some extraordinary oversight even this has been done. Probably in consequence of the neglect 
of ornithologists to distinguish the diagnostic characters of new species from those which they have 
in common with their allies, and from the difficulty of obtaining examples for comparison, Geocichla 
nilgiriensis has been identified with G. dauma, and 6. heinii with G. lunulata, in a “ Notice sur les 
Merles du genre Oréocincle" by Dr. Vian (Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France, 1880, 
pp. 217, 220). 
Geocichla nilgiriensis appears to be always a smaller bird than G. varía, and generally than 
G. horsfieldi and б. dauma. It varies in length of wing from 5'3 to 4:8 inches, tail 9*7 to 373 inches, 
culmen 1:3 to 1:0 inch, tarsus 1:2 to 1:1 inch. Outer tail-feathers nearly as long as the longest. 
First primary sometimes shorter, but generally longer than the primary-coverts; second primary 
sometimes longer, sometimes shorter than the sixth. 
There is an example in the British Museum which retains remains of the first plumage. It has 
pale shaft-streaks on the crown, the culmen measures only 1 inch, the black lunulations are almost 
obsolete on the rump and upper tail-coverts, and are less crescent-shaped than is usual elsewhere ; 
the under tail-coverts are buff, but the Geocichline markings on the under surface of the wing are 
white, as in the adult. 
The amount of white on the tips of the inner webs of the outer tail-feathers varies from rather 
more to rather less than half an inch [distinguishing it from Geocichla papuensis, G. cuneata, | 
and 6. heinii, which have more white on the tail, and from б. imbricata, which has none at all]. 
The tail is less than four-fifths of the length of the wing [distinguishing it from Geocichla lunulata, 
G. cuneata, and 6. macrorhyncha], and consists of only twelve rectrices [distinguishing it from 
G. varia ала 6. horsfieldi |. 
Compared with Geocichla dauma it is smaller in size, with a proportionately larger bill; the 
brown of the upper parts, especially of the rump and upper tail-coverts, is more russet (less olive) ; 
and the sub-terminal bars across the feathers, especially those of the crown, are darker and 
consequently much less conspicuous. 
In its supplementary characters it has some trifling peculiarities. Тһе pale spots on the median 
and greater wing-coverts are semi-lunar rather than fan-shaped ; the buff on the central part of the 
outer web of the primary-coverts is reduced to a narrow marginal line, which fades into brown. 
The figure of the adult on the Plate is drawn from an example sent by Blyth to the British 
Museum; that of the young bird is drawn from a specimen shot at Ootacamund in the Nilgiris 
by Major Wardlaw Ramsay, and is also in the British Museum. 
