254 



Catalogue of the Birds 



[Oct. 



tween this species and the European bird, is the length of bill, which 

 is considerably longest in the Neilgherry bird. This, with the differ- 

 ence of colour of legs and claws, and the distinct (though slight) 

 variation of the tint of the plumage are sufficient, I should imagine, 

 (independent of its difference of locality), to stamp this as a distinct 

 and independent species. It would be interesting to know if this spe- 

 cies was confined to the small, but highly elevated table lands of the 

 South of India, or had a more extended geographical distribution. 



84. — T. cyanotus, Jard. 111. Ornith.— 46.— Blue backed Thrush. 



This neatly marked species is found only in dense and lofty jun- 

 gles, i have seen it in Goomsoor, in the Malabar Coast, and most 

 numerously in the bamboo jungles of the Wynaud, though far 

 from being common even there. It is always found solitary, 

 perched on the lower branches of trees, and its flight is low and 

 rapid. Feeds chiefly on stony fruit. Colonel Sykes says also on 

 cicadoz and other insects. I never heard it utter any note. Irides dark 

 brown; length 8 inches; of wing 4| ; tail nearly 3j tarsus l^ths 

 of an inch. 



85. — T. varius, Horsf. — Elegant Thrush. 



I only once saw and obtained a specimen of this elegantly marked 

 and formed species of thrush, in a small tope close to Rumbah, on 

 the Chilka lake, in the neighbourhood of a high jungle ; its flight was 

 very rapid. Its stomach contained various fruit and seeds. Irides 

 dark hazel. Length about 10 inches; of wing rather more than 5£ ; tail 

 3§; tarsus 1 T Vhs. The first quill is very small ; the second slightly 

 shorter than the fifth, the third longest and perceptibly longer than the 

 fourth. Bill brownish ; legs and feet dirty yellow 



Sub Family CRATEROPODlNiE, Swains.— Babblers. 



This sub-family has received a most appropriate name from Swain- 

 son, who has, I think, most justly located in it the various Indian genera 

 PeMorneum, Crateropus, Pomatorrhinus and Thimalia, which much 

 resemble each other in their manners, though they do not in general 

 evince a partiality for the neighbourhood of water, nor do they inhabit 

 the thickets of reeds and other aquatic plants, as said, in Svvainson, to 

 be the general habits of the family. The notes of all the species are 

 loud. * 



