ANT THRUSH. 



309 



Tardus formicivorus. Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1. 828.— L«M. Ind. 



Orn. 1. 301. 127. 

 Le Palikour, ou Fcmrmilier. Buf. Hist. Kat. Ois. 4. 473. — 



Buff, PI. Enl, 700. f. 1. 

 Aat Thrush. Lath. Gen. Syn. 3. 8/. 120. 



The Ant Thrush is six inches in length : the 

 beak is black: the irides reddish: orbits blue: 

 the upper parts of the plumage reddish brown, 

 edged with rufous, with a black spot on the back : 

 wings black ; most of the coverts tipped with 

 rufous yellow, some of the lesser quills tipped 

 with brown, and some edged with white : the 

 chin, throat, and breast^ are black, surrounded 

 with a mixture of black and white from the nos- 

 trils, passing on each side of the neck to the 

 breast, and taking in the eye, under which it is 

 broadest : the belly, thighs, and vent, ash-coloured : 

 the tail short and rufous on the upper parts : the 

 legs blueish. It varies in having the chin and 

 throat nearly white, and the thighs rufous brown: 

 in others the chin and throat are rufous, bounded 

 with black. 



This bird feeds on ants : its nest is composed 

 of moss, and its eggs are brown, marked with 

 spots of a deeper colour at the larger end : it is a 

 very lively bird. 



