GEOCICHLA IMBRICATA  (Layard). 
CEYLON GROUND-THRUSH. 
Zoothera imbricata, Layard, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. xiii. p. 212 (1854). 
Oreocincla nilghiriensis (nec Blyth), Jerd. Ibis, 1872, p. 139; Holdsw. P. Z. S. 1872, p. 446. 
Oreocincla imbricata, Hume, Str. F. i. p. 487 (1873); Legge, B. Ceylon, p. 455, pl. xix. fig. 2 
(1879); Oates, Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds, ii. p. 154 (1890). 
Oreocincla gregoriana, Nevil, Str. F. i. p. 437 (1878). 
Geocichla imbricata, Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 159 (1881). 
G. suprà olivascenti-brunnea, nigro lunulata: subtüs ochraceo-rufescens, nigro lunulata: rectricibus lateralibus 
minim albo terminatis. ` 
THE present species, which might well be called the Buff-breasted Ground-Thrush, was first 
described by Mr. E. І. Layard іп 1854, and the type is now in the British Museum. It is really 
one оЁ Ше most distinct of Ше Oreocincline group of Thrushes, and no one comparing the two birds 
could confound it with (б. nilgiriensis, though this has been done by Jerdon and other writers, 
doubtless from lack of specimens for comparison. In 1873, Mr. Hugh Nevil proposed the name of 
Oreocincla gregoriana for what appeared to him to be an undescribed species; but Mr. A. O. Hume 
pointed out at the time the probable identity of the new species with G. imbricata (Layard), and this 
identification was confirmed by me, in 1881, in the fifth volume of the * Catalogue of Birds.' 
The species is peculiar to Ceylon, and, so far as is known, appears to be confined to the 
mountain-ranges of the Central Province of that island, where it is found from 3000 to 6000 feet 
above the level of the sea. It probably breeds in the forests, as it makes its appearance regularly in 
January and February in the gardens of the coffee-planters. 
It is nowhere very common, and is very shy and retiring in its habits, so that but little is 
known of the latter. It is said to feed almost exclusively on the ground, where it scratches amongst 
the fallen leaves under the trees in search of insects, and when startled it rises with a loud flutter to 
seek the nearest cover (Legge, Birds of Ceylon, p. 455). 
Nothing has been recorded of the song of this bird, nor is anything known of its nest or 
eggs. 
Geocichla imbricata is in every respect a typical member of the Oreocincline group, though, like 
O. nilgiriensis, it has а Zootherine bill and a comparatively large bastard-primary, which generally 
extends beyond the primary-coverts. Its most striking peculiarity is that the whole of the underparts 
are suffused with buff. In the general colour of the upper parts it most closely resembles G. lunulata, 
except that the pale sub-terminal bands across the feathers of the crown are more distinct. In the 
latter character it exactly resembles G. nilgiriensis. It has no white at the tips of the tail-feathers, 
and the outer rectrices are not more than 2 inches shorter than the longest. The second and sixth 
primaries are of about the same length. Тһе three penultimate rectrices on each side are much 
darker than the rest, and the Geocichline markings on the inner webs of the primaries and 
secondaries are buff. 
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