TURDINJL 
gape furnished with short bristles; the nostrils lateral, basal, with the opening placed in a small 
groove, oval,' and exposed. Wings moderate and rounded; with the first quill very short; the second 
much shorter than the third, which is rather shorter than the fourth and fifth, and sometimes to the 
seventh, which are equal and longest. Tail lengthened, broad, and graduated. Tarsi as long as the 
middle toe, strong, and covered in front with broad scales. Toes rather long ; the outer toe rather longer 
than the inner, and united at the base ; the hind toe long and strong ; the claws moderate, curved, 
mid acute. 
flie species of this genus are found throughout both continents of America, as well as the West Indies and 
Galapagos Islands. They are migratory, shy, though lively birds, usually seen in the forests, or near the houses, 
topping with a quick motion from branch to branch. Some prefer the dry sterile regions near the coast, while others 
s eek the plains and valleys thinly scattered with stunted and thorn-bearing trees. Their food consists of various kinds 
°f insects, berries, and worms. During the spring of the year most of the species possess a most pleasing song, and 
they are also capable of imitating in the highest degree, even in the wild state, the notes of other birds; as well as all 
manner of noises. When pouring forth their song they generally seat themselves upon the elevated twig of a low 
U8 h> auf l usually elevate their tail and spread their wings at the same time. The nest is usually placed in a bush or 
small tree. It is composed of twigs and sticks intermixed with straw and wool, lined interiorly with fine fibrous roots. 
I he eggs are five in number. 
b M. polyglottus (Linn.) VVifs. Amer. Orn. pi. 10. f 1 
' r pheus leucopterus Vigors. 
2. ? M, orpheus (Linn,) Edw. Birds pi. 78., Vieill. Ois. de 
Amer. Septr. t. 68. 
3. ? M. dominicus (Linn.) PL enl. 558. f. 1 Merula domini- 
Ce nsis Briss . 
b M. gilvus (Vieill.) Ois. de l’Amer. Sept. t. 68.* 
^ M. lividus (Licht.) — Turdus orpheus Spix, Av. Bras. t. 71. 
G M. thenka (Mol.) Chili, p. 222. — Orpheus australis Less. 
calandria (D’Orb. & Lafr.) Azara, No. 223 — Turdus 
Sa turninus Licht. Voy. dans l’Amer. Me'r. Ois. t. 10. f. 2. ; Orpheus 
’"odulator Gould. 
( 8. M. triurus (Vieill.) N. Diet. d’Hist. Nat. xx. p. 276. — 
hpheus tricaudatus D’Orb. &; Lafr. 
9- M. trifasciatus (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1837. p. 27., Voy. of 
Bea gk, Birds pi. 16. 
^ 10 - AI. panulus (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1837. p- 27., Voy. of 
la gle, Birds pi. 18. — Orpheus melanotis Gould, Voy. of Beagle, 
" lr< ls pi. 17. 
D. ,\l. dorsalis (D’Orb. & Lafr.) Av. Syn. p. 19., Voy. dans 
Amer. Me'r. Ois. til. f. 1 . 
12. M. patagonicus (D’Orb. & Lafr.) Av. Syn. p. 1 Q., Voy. 
dans l’Amer. Me'r. Ois. t. 11. f. 2. 
13. M. plumbous (Linn.) PL enl. 560. f. 1., Vieill. Ois. de 
l’Amer. Septr. t. 58. — Turdus ardosiacus Vieill. 
14. M. Thilius (Mol.) Chili, p. 221. 
15. M. carolinensis (Linn.) Cat. Car. pi. 66. — Turdus lividus 
Wits. Amer. Orn. pi. 20. f. 3. ; Tr. felivox Vieill. Ois. de 1’Amer. 
Septr. t. 67-, Voy. l’ile de Cuba, Ois. t. 7. 
16 M. vwrulescens (Swains.) Phil. Mag. 1827. p. 369. — Tur- 
dus melanotis Temm. Pl. col. 498. 
17- M. rufus (Linn.) Pl. enl. 645., VVils. Amer. Orn. pl. 14. 
f. 1., Vieill. Ois. de l’Amer. Septr. pl. 59. 
18. M. longicaudatus Tschudi, Fauna Peruana, p. 
19. M. curvirostris (Swains.) Phil. Mag. 1827. p. 3 6 9. — Tox- 
ostoma veluta Wagl. ; Pomatorhinus turdinus Temm. PL col. 444. ; 
Harpes rediviva Gamb. La Perouse Atl. to Voy. t. 37- ; Type of 
Toxostoma Wagl. 1831. 
20. M. longirostris (Lafr.) Rev. Zool. 1838. p. 55., Mag. de 
Zool. 1839. Ois. t. 1. 
June, 1847. 
