GEOCICHLA RUBECULA, Gould. 
JAVAN GROUND-THRUSH. 
Geocichla rubecula, Gould, P. 7. 8. 1836, p. 7; Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 174 
(1881). 
Turdus rubecula, Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 220 (1847). 
G. pileo et pectore aurantiaco-castaneis: dorso claré schistaceo: tectricibus alarum mediis albo terminatis, 
majoribus autem dorso concoloribus. 
Тнів Ground-Thrush is very closely related to its ally on the mainland, the Orange-headed Ground- 
Thrush, Geocichla citrina, and might almost be regarded as an island race of that species, but there 
is no evidence that they intergrade. On an average the Javan species is rather smaller than 
its ally: it is slightly darker in colour on the head and nape than typical examples of Geocichla 
citrina, and it further differs from that species in having the greyish-blue of the upper parts and the 
orange-chestnut of the underparts deeper in colour. 
The Javan Ground-Thrush is intermediate between Geocichla citrina апа G. aurata, and is so 
nearly allied to both of them that it doubtless owes its claims to specific rank to the fact of its 
isolation on the islands of Java and Bali. As it has white tips to the median wing-coverts, but no 
white on the throat, it can only be confounded with these two allied species. It is slightly smaller 
than Geocichla citrina (wing 4-4 to 4:0 inches), and is darker both on the upper and underparts. 1% 
differs from Geocichla aurata in being darker on the underparts and in having white under 
tail-coverts. à 
The species appears to be confined to the two islands above mentioned, and Javan specimens 
are not rare in collections. Пт. Vorderman records it from Mt. Salak in West Java (Nat. Tijdschr. 
Nederl. Ind. xlv. p. 47, 1885). Mr. Doherty has more recently found it in Bali (Hartert, Nov. Zool. 
iii. p. 537). 
The adult male and female may be described as follows :—Entire head and neck dark orange- 
chestnut, the rest of the upper parts dark greyish-blue, each feather with a slightly darker 
centre; lores orange-chestnut ; eye-stripe obsolete; lesser wing-coverts dark greyish-blue; median 
wing-coverts dark greyish-blue, with concealed black bases and broad white tips; greater wing- 
coverts dark greyish-blue, with dark brown inner webs; tertials dark greyish-blue ; secondaries and 
primaries brown, the outer ‘webs of the former margined with dark greyish-blue, and those of 
the latter, where unemarginated, with paler greyish-blue ; centre tail-feathers and outer webs of the 
others dark bluish-grey, the rest brown; ear-coverts dark orange-chestnut ; underparts orange- 
chestnut, shading into white on the vent, thighs, and under tail-coverts; 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. 
Second primary intermediate in length between the sixth and eighth ; legs, feet, and claws flesh- 
ye ditas e Pr MERITI m E DO Eom unc e 
