GEOCICHLA GUTTATA (igors). 
NATAL GROUND-THRUSH. 
Turdus guttatus, Vigors, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 92. 
Psophocichla guttata, Cab. J. f. O. 1860, p. 182. 
Geocichla guttata, Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 168 (1881). 
С. tectricibus alarum mediis et majoribus albo terminatis ; pectore nigro maculato : rectricibus externis laté albo 
apicatis: lineá superciliari vix evidente. 
Тнів species was described by Vigors from a specimen sent in a collection of birds shipped from 
Port Elizabeth, and the typical example was presented to the Zoological Society of London; but it 
does not appear to have passed into the British Museum, as did most of the types belonging to the 
Society's old museum. 
As far as is known, the present bird has not been found in any portion of the Eastern Cape 
Colony, but it occurs in Natal. Here it was rediscovered by Sir Andrew Smith, who states that none 
were found by him beyond the forests which border upon Port Natal. There he procured some 
specimens in damp retired situations, and, when discovered, the birds were actively employed in 
search of food beneath the brushwood. 
Iam not aware that the species has been met with in any other part of South Africa, and 
Messrs. R. B. and J. D. S. Woodward have not procured it in Zulu-land. Іп East Africa, however, 
it was found by Fischer at Kipini, in the Formosa Bay district (J. f. O. 1879, pp. 278, 287, 356). 
Between Mombasa and the Tana River he says that the species was plentiful in some places on the 
coast. According to him, it never leaves the forest, and was often to be seen on the ground, 
especially in the neighbourhood of ants’ nests. It was generally observed in pairs, and was very shy 
and difficult to shoot. Не describes the song as very peculiar and wonderful, but not often heard. 
The Natal Ground-Thrush appears to be more closely related to the Spotted-winged Ground- 
Thrush than it is to any of its African relations; and though the two species differ in many little 
details, the superficial resemblance between them is very striking. (Т. guttata is, however, a clearly 
defined species and can easily be diagnosed. The first character—median and greater wing-coverts 
tipped with large pure white fan-shaped spots—excludes every species of the section except ten 
species. А second character—breast and flanks ornamented with black guttate spots—excludes 
all the latter with the single exception of Geocichla spiloptera. From this species it is easily 
diagnosed by a third character—outer tail-feathers with white terminal spots, an inch or more in 
extent. 
The adult male and female in spring plumage may be described as follows :—General colour of 
the upper parts olive, slightly more fulvous on the head; lores nearly white; eye-stripe obsolete ; 
lesser wing-coverts olive-brown ; median and greater wing-coverts blackish brown, with large white 
terminal fan-shaped spots; primary-coverts blackish brown, with a pale olive streak on the outer 
web; tertials olive-brown with obscure pale tips; secondaries and primaries brown, margined with 
olive-brown on the outer webs; tail-feathers olive-brown, the outer pair with a deep (1l inch) 
terminal wedge of white, the two next pairs more or less tipped with white; ear-coverts buff, crossed 
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