252 



Catalogue of the Birds 



[Oct. 



Sub-Family MERULIN^E.— True Thrushes. 

 Genus PETROCINCLA.— Rode Thrush. 



81. — P. Pandoo, Sykes.— P. <Maal f Sykes. — Indian Rock Thrush— 

 Shamah, H. 



In accordance with Colonel Sykes' opinion, I place this bird as distinct 

 from the P. Cyanea of Europe, which it much resembles. The Shaman, 

 is a rare bird in the southern part of the Peninsula. I have only seen it 

 on the Neilgherries, near Coonoor and Kotagherry, in bushy and rocky 

 valleys. Towards the more northern parts it becomes more frequent. 

 I observed it several times about the central part of the table land, both 

 in the neighbourhood of villages, and in rocky valleys and hills. About 

 Jaulnah it is far from being uncommon, frequenting chiefly the old mud 

 walls of villages, and rocky hills, and occasionally seen about houses 

 and stables in cantonment, perching now and then on the house tops. 

 I first observed it this year (1839) in the beginning of October, coming 

 in at the same time with many other birds, and it stays here (Jaulnah) 

 till April. It is always solitary, feeds on various insects. I have found 

 the P. maa J , of Sykes, in the same localities as his P. pandoo, and con- 

 sider it as the young bird or female, which is also the opinion of Mr. 

 Elliot. From his notes I take the following extract: — " very tame, 

 often coming into houses and hopping about verandahs; has a fine song, 

 and is trained and domesticated by faqueers and others ; common on 

 the coast from Vingorlah to Cambay." Length 8£ inches ; wing 

 nearly 15 j tail 3 ; tarsus 1 inch. Irides deep brown j bill and legs 

 black. 



Genus PETROPHILA, Swainson. 



82. P. cinclorhjncha, Sw.—Petrccincla cmcIorhy?icJia, Vigors.— 

 Gould, Cent. pi. 



This bird certainly differs from the last in its habits, as well as form, 

 but the generic name adopted by Swainson is, I think, unfortunate, as 

 I have hitherto only met it perched on trees in dense and lofty jungle 

 in the Coonoor pass of the Neilgherries, on the summit of the hills 

 nearCoonoor — and once in the jungles of Malabar, at no great eleva- 

 tion above the sea. On one occasion only I observed three or four toge- 

 ther ; at all other times it was solitary. Its stomach contained various 

 fruit and berries. * 



