SAXICOLIN^. 
129 
churcli, althougli generally similar, differs in the form of the 
wing, and is said to agree with a Hamburgh specimen figured 
and described by Mr Gould under the name of Turdus Whitei. 
Not having examined these two specimens, I cannot decide 
upon their identity or dissimilarity. M. Temminck holds them 
to be the same ; but in very many instances he has made 
similar assertions, and yet afterwards altered his mind. 
Turdus varius, Horsf. ZooL Res. in Java. — Turdus Whitei, 
White’s Thrush, Eyton, Rarer Brit. Birds, 92. — Turdus varius 
seu Whitei (Gould), Temm. Man. d’Ornith. iv. 602. — Turdus 
varius. Variegated Thrush, MacGillivray, Brit. Birds, ii. 146. 
FAMILY XYII. SAXICOLINiE. SAXICOLIXE 
BIRDS, OR STONECHATS. 
Body rather compact ; neck short ; head rather large, 
broadly ovate, anteriorly convex. Bill rather short, 
straight, slender, tapering, depressed at the base, com- 
pressed toward the end ; upper mandible with the tip slen- 
der, slightly decurved, the notches obsolete. Tongue of 
moderate length, slender, emarginate and papillate at the 
base, horn^toward the end, with the edges lacerate, and 
the tip slit ; oesophagus of nearly uniform width ; stomach 
of moderate size, roundish or elliptical, compressed, its la- 
teral muscles rather thick, the cuticular lining tough, thin, 
and longitudinally rugous ; intestine of moderate length 
and width ; coeca very small, oblong. Legs of moderate 
length ; tarsus slender, compressed, anteriorly covered 
with a long plate, in which the divisions of the scutella 
are sometimes distinctly marked ; toes moderate, com- 
pressed, scutellate, the first strong, the lateral equal ; 
claws rather large, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage 
blended ; bristles small ; wings of moderate length, broad ; 
the first quill small, the next three longest, the last three 
secondaries gradually shorter ; tail of moderate length. 
The Saxicolinse, being intimately allied to the Turdi- 
nse, Alaudinse, and Sylviinse, present no abrupt and decid- 
ed characters, by which they can be easily defined. They 
I 
