592 
lightly coloured ; round the neck was a narrow ring of yellowish- 
white feathers j some of the feathers on the belly were white, and 
all those beneath the tail. After a short time the ring of feathers 
on the neck disappeared, and, by about August (1 1863), the black 
feathers had been replaced by others, when it came to be a normal 
Thrush, but shortly afterwards it escaped. Count Salvadori 
considers it to have been a hybrid between the Blackbird and the 
Thrush; but its change of plumage seems to indicate that it was 
more probably a melanistic variety of the latter. 
XVI. In the same work* occurs the following remark in 
reference to known or probable instances of hybridity between the 
two species “ There is one in the British Museum presented by 
Mr. A. D. Bartlett.” I am indebted to Mr. Bartlett for replies to 
my inquiries concerning this bird. He says that it was taken near 
London, that “the late Mr. Edward Blyth, myself, and others, 
could arrive at no other conclusion than that it was a hybrid. The 
plumage was very intermediate as well as the size and form. Mr. 
Bowdler Sharpe has very kindly searched for and found ttie 
specimen in the British Museum, but agrees with me in thinking 
that it is not a hybrid. According to Mr. Seebohm’s determination 
it is a melanistic variety of the Missel Thrush. The bird is labelled . 
“British. Beceivcd from Mr. Bartlett in exchange, Xov. 1844. 
Total length 10 ins., wing from carpal joint 5|, tail 4 ins. ; 3rd 
primary longest; 2nd and 4th equal. A. D. B.” The bill is 
shorter, thicker, and more conical than is usual with the Blackbird 
or Missel Thrush. The upper part of the head, neck, back, wings, 
and tail are of an almost uniform russet-brown, a shade darker than 
is usual in the Missel Thrush, but lightest over the tail and the 
outer margins of the secondaries. The under parts are of a 
dark brownish-black, the feathers on the chin tipped with dirty 
white. Some feathers on the breast, and others down the middle of 
the stomach, are rather broadly edged with dirty yellowish-white ; 
ventrices and under tail-coverts all of the same colour ; legs very 
light (probably faded). 
Macgillivray refers to a specimen t Avhich I have little doubt^ is 
another melanism of the Missel Thrush. He says; “A bird 
in the Museum of the University of Edinburgh is, in all probability 
# Article “Blackbird” (vol. ii. p. 15). 
t ‘ History of British Birds,’ vol. ii. p. 117. 
