1839.] 



of the Peninsula of India. 



253 



A young bird, I possess, is of a brownish olive colour above, with a 

 tinge of blue on the shoulders and tail, rump feathers edged with 

 rusty ; beneath white, much tinged with rusty on breast, and the fea- 

 thers barred transversely with olive brown. Length 7£ inches ; wing 

 rather more than 4 j tail 2| ; tarsus -A ths of an inch j irides brown. 



Genus TURDUS, L., Auct.— Merula, Sw. 



83. — T. simillimus. — New species. — Neilghemj black bird. 



This black bird, generally considered by residents on the Neilgher- 

 ries to be identical with the European species, so closely resembles 

 it, that I was unable to decide accurately from the descriptions I pos» 

 sess, till I procured some specimens from home of the British bird. 

 It however differs invariably (besides in other points hereafter to be 

 mentioned) in the colour of its legs, which are always yellow, whilst 

 those of the T. meruJa are brown (I had overlooked this point in the 

 descriptions). The Neilgherry blade, bird has exactly the same habits 

 and song as its European analogue, though I think in this latter respect 

 it is surpassed by the British bird. 



I have only observed it on the Neilgherries, in the dense woods of 

 which it is very common, and maybe daily heard pouring' forth its 

 charming song, especially towards evening, and in cloudy weather. 

 It is found alone or in small families. It lives chiefly on fruit of dif- 

 ferent kinds, especially of the pleasant Brazil cherry, now so abundant 

 in the woods there ; also feeds on worms, caterpillars, and other soft 

 insects. I possess a specimen, given me by Major Campbell, 33d N. I., 

 who shot it on the Pulney hills, which is identical with the Neilgher- 

 ry ones. 



Descr.— Male bird entirely black, conspicuously darkest on the head 

 and back of neck, lightest below, and tinged with dusky brownish. 

 Female of a dark olive brown above, of a much lighter tint below. 

 Bill and edges of eyelids, in both sexes, orange yellow ; feet dark yel- 

 low 7 , with a tinge of dusky in the female ; claws of same colour as toes. 

 Irides dark hazel brown. Length 10 inches ; of wing a little more than 

 5 inches ; tail rather more than 4 ; tarsus nearly I -^ths. 



The young birds are of a similar colour to the females; the feathers 

 especially of the head, neck and breast, have a central streak of a light 

 brownish yellow. In the European bird, this central streak is of a much 

 darker and more rufous hue. One of the chief points of difference, be- 



