GEOCICHLA ALBIGULARIS, Blyth. 
NICOBAR GROUND-THRUSH. 
Geocichla albogularis, Blyth, J. A. S. Beng. xvi. p. 146 (1847); Hume, Str. F. ii. p. 221 (1874, 
pt.) ; Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 175 (1881); Oates, Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds, ii. p. 142 
(1890). 
С. pileo et gastreeo aurantiaco-castaneis : dorso et tectricibus alarum schistaceo-cinereis, immaculatis : gulá albá. 
THE present species was discovered in 1846 on the Nicobar Islands by Captain Lewis and the 
Rev. J. Barbe, and in the following year was described by Blyth as doubtfully distinct under 
the name of Geocichla albogularis (1. s. c.). Тһе types are still in the Calcutta Museum 
(cf. W. L. Sclater, Ibis, 1892, p. 81). 
In 1849, Blyth appears to have changed his opinion as to the specific validity of his 
с. albogularis, for he recorded it as the female of С. innotata (Cat. В. Mus. As. Soc. Beng. p. 163). 
Mr. A. O. Hume was the first to point out that Blyth was wrong in uniting these two species; but 
he himself was wrong in identifying it with the Geocichla of the Andamans (Stray Feathers, ii. 
p. 221), an opinion to which he adhered, even after the latter species had been separated as 
distinct by Tweeddale (cf. Hume, Stray Feathers, iv. p. 289). In 1881, however, after an examination 
of the specimens in the Tweeddale Collection, I came to the conclusion that the Andaman and 
wasa 
d 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
Nicobar birds were distinct. 
С. albigularis is an intermediate species between Geocichla andamanensis and Geocichla innotata, 
agreeing with them and differing from the other orange-headed species in having no white tips to 
the median wing-coverts. Тһе white on the throat, a character which it shares with Geocichla 
cyanonota, serves to distinguish it from both these species. 
The adult male may be described as follows :— 
Entire head and sides of the neck rather dark orange-chestnut; the rest of the upper parts 
rather dark greyish blue, each feather with a darker centre; lores nearly white; eye-stripe obsolete ; 
lesser wing-coverts greyish-blue; median wing-coverts greyish-blue; greater wing-coverts greyish- 
blue, with dark brown inner webs ; primary-coverts greyish-blue, with dark brown inner webs ; tertials 
greyish-blue; secondaries and primaries brown, more or less margined on the outer webs with 
greyish-blue; centre tail-feathers and outer webs of the others bluish-grey, the rest brown; ear- 
coverts dark orange-chestnut with white bases; underparts orange-chestnut, shading into white 
on the chin, throat, centre of belly, thighs, and under tail-coverts, the latter with grey patches on 
the outer webs; axillaries bluish-grey with white bases; lower primary-coverts bluish-grey; lower 
secondary-coverts white, with bluish-grey bases. 
Geocichline markings on inner webs of quills, white. 
Bill dark, paler at the base of the under mandible; second primary about equal to the seventh ; 
legs, feet, and claws pale; outer tail-feathers 0:15 shorter than the longest. 
Length of wing 4:2 to 8:9 inches, tail 2:9 to 2:6 inches, culmen 0:85 to 0:79 inch; bastard- 
primary slightly longer than the primary-coverts, its exposed portion measuring 1:1 to 0:8 inch. 
I2 
