264 
p. 132, 1870, p. 180). The species was likewise met with at David = Hicks (Salvin, Ibis, 1872, 
p. 314), and Mr. Salvin observed it at Obispo (Biol. 2. c. p. 18). 
Specimens from Colombia seem to me to be absolutely identical with those from Central 
America, to judge from the specimens. іп the British Museum. Three of these were purchased 
from dealers, but the Salvin-Godman Collection contains one example from Santa Marta obtained 
by Mr. F. A. Simons in February 1879 (Salvin and Godman, Ibis, 1880, p. 115). 
Grayson writes:—“I procured specimens near Tepic at the beautiful hacienda of Janja, 
belonging to Barron and Forbes, in the months of April and Мау; they were in full song then, and 
commencing to build their nests among the orange- and mango-groves that so handsomely ornament 
the grounds of Janja. One was here kept in a cage and its melodious whistling notes could be heard 
for some distance. Their song somewhat resembles that of the northern Robin (Turdus migratorius), 
but is more voluminous." | 
Mr. Nutting says that, in Costa Rica, *the habits and note were similar to those of Merula 
migratoria. t was rather solitary and silent during the time І collected in the region (April), but | 
this is probably due to the fact that it was the breeding-season.” Von Frantzius did not think much 
of the singing-powers of Gray's Thrush, but his testimony does not agree with that of Messrs. Salvin 
and Godman. They write :— It is usually to be seen іп Guatemala in the outskirts of plantations 
and in the orchards near houses, but not so much in the forest away from habitations. Its song is 
rich and of considerable compass, being quite equal to that of any of its congeners. Its powers of 
song make it a favourite cage-bird in аан and native houses." Mr. Е. M. Chapman also praises 
its song :—“ The calls of. Merula grayi bear a strong resemblance to certain of those of our Robin 
(Merula migratoria), but it has also a wholly distinctive nasal mewing note. Its song I consider to | 
be one of the finest I have ever heard a bird sing. Іп its varied character, fluency, and execution it 
suggests the song of the Cat-bird (Galeoscoptes carolinensis), Thrasher (Harporhynchus rufus), and 
Mocker (Mimus polyglottus), but it is sweeter in tone and less consciously sung; in spirituality I was 
reminded of both the Wood-Thrush (Turdus mustelinus) and Hermit-Thrush (T. pallasi). In short, 
it is a flawless performance, and, heard at nightfall, when the birds sing most freely, it is one of the 
most satisfying bird's songs to which it has been my fortune to listen." 
In Nicaragua Mr. Richmond found the species common, and he considers the song to be not 
unlike that of Merula migratoria, although somewhat inferior. On the Escondido the banana-plan- 
tations are its favourite haunts, and it frequently places its nest in the bunches of fruit, occasionally 
building in the space at the junction of a leaf with the stem of the plant. “A nest secured on July Ist 
resembled that of М. migratoria in having the walls well plastered with mud. It contained two fresh 
eggs, measuring 1:09 by 0:78, and 1:14 by 0:79 inch; pale bluish-grey, spotted and blotched with 
reddish-brown. Two young birds just able to fly were found on the 18th of June. It is interesting | 
to note that in the tropics many species lay but two eggs. The domestic fowls are not so prolific as 
in the north apparently, and their eggs are small-sized." 
Mr. Salvin says (Ibis, 1859, p. 5):—* It breeds commonly at Dueñas in the months of April 
and May, making a nest of roots, fibres, and small twigs, with a lining of dry grass and fine roots. 
'The eggs, three in number, are more or less covered with spots and blotches of red-brown on a 
ground of pale bluish green, the spots being more concentrated at the obtuse end. They measure 
l inch 24 lines in axis and 101 lines in diameter." 
Adult male. General colour above russet-brown, with a strong tinge of olive, the wing-coverts 
like the back ; bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and quills dusky brown, externally like the back ; tail- 
feathers ashy-brown, washed on the outer webs with the same colour as the back; crown of head 
ruddy-brown, slightly less olive and more rufescent than the back ; lores, feathers below the eye, and 
гаданне ваны, ا‎ - 
гарт sii و‎ 
