452 
TUEDUS SPILOPTEEA. 
I 
Ohs. Bljth placed this bird in the subgenus Oreoeincla of Gould, the characteristic of which is that the back and 
breast are marked with crescentic edgings of dark brown. Inasmuch, however, as it has a plain upper surface, it 
cannot well belong to Oreoeinela, and, in fact, it is a true Turdtts. The wing is slightly more rounded than in 
typical species of this genus, the 5th qudl usually proving the longest, and the 2nd is considerably shorter than 
the 3rd ; but were variations in the wing-formula of such birds as the Thrushes to be taken as sufficient basis for 
the establishment of genera, we should have a useless multiplication of them. 
The nearest Indian ally of our Spotted Thrush is T. mollissima from the sub-Himalayan region. This species is brownish 
oUve above, some examples having a rusty tinge ; the greater and median wing-coverts have fulvous-white tips ; 
beneath white, tinged with bufi on the throat and chest, and spotted with black on those parts ; the feathers of 
the breast and flanks with slightly crescentic-shaped tips of black, and in this last feature it differs from our bird. 
Wing 5'4 to 6'6 inches. 
Distribution . — The Spotted Thrush, which is the Ceylon representative of the Indian Plain-backed Thrush, 
was discovered by the late Dr. Templeton. It is an inhabitant of the central hill-region, from about 4000 feet 
downwards, being not at all uncommon in Uva and in the less elevated district of Dumbara. From the base of 
the hills, where it is more frequent, it spreads outwards, particularly in the forest-districts, and in the western 
and southern parts of the island is found within a few miles of the sea. In Saffragam, and on the well-wooded 
tract lying between Eatnapura and Dambulla, along the base of the western ranges, as also in the Pasdun, 
Ray gam, and Hewagam Korales, it is more often heard and seen than in other parts of the low country ; .and 
I and others have procured it within a few miles of Colombo. In the low-hill jungles of the south-west it is 
scarcely less frequent. In the forests of the Wanni and those of the Friars- Hood group I have procured it; 
but it is rarer in those parts than in the bamboo-jungles of the Western Province. 
Habits . — A shy, retiring bird, this species frequents damp jungle, undergrowth in forests, and bamboo- 
thickets, not often mounting to any height on trees, but passing its time near the ground, about which it hops 
quietly, picking up pupae, Coleoptera, and other inseets ; and when alarmed it runs very quickly through 
underwood, uttering a weak chirping note. The male has a very pretty whistle, ending in a human-like note, 
which it utters, seated on a low branch, for a considerable time at intervals throughout the day, but chiefly in 
the moiming and evening. Both sexes have a weak, almost inaudible “ tzsee,” which they utter, as the Black- 
bird does, while searching for food. It does not often come into the open ; but at sunset I have now and then 
seen it in little copses of guava and other small trees which are to be found in the meadows on the banks of 
some of the western streams ; and I once shot one whistling in a clump of the tall bamhoo [Bambusa thouarsi) . 
The young bird quickly acquires its vocal powers, and whistles as sweetly in the soft-gape stage as an adult. 
A singular theory obtains among the Sinhalese with reference to this species and the Pitta or Ground- 
'Ihrush. They have a tradition that Buddha, in former times, changed some of the spotted Thrushes into 
Pittas, a bird which they likewise style “Avitchia and they believe that these beautiful birds are the progeny 
of the Spotted Thrush, asserting, however, that Ahe young of both species are to be found in the nest of this 
bitter bird. The fact of the Pitta being a migratory bird, and appearing in the island suddenly, no doubt is 
the cause of this imaginative mode of accounting for its arrival. 
Nidification . — I have found this bird nesting in the northern forests near Trincomalie in January, and 
I obtained a young nestling in Uva in September. Mr. MacYicar has taken its eggs at Ksesbawa, near 
Colombo, in May ; the breeding-season, therefore, extends over the first half of the year. The nest is placed 
in the fork of a suppling a few feet from the ground, or among the roots of a tree on a bank or little eminence, 
and is a loose-looking, though compactly put together structure of small twigs, roots, moss, and grass, lined 
with finer materials of the same, the egg-cavity being a deep cup, tolerably neatly finished off. The eggs are 
two or three in number,* of a pale bluish-green ground, freckled throughout with light reddish brown, or light 
red and reddish grey, over a few lilac spots at the obtuse end, the markings in some being confluent at that 
portion ; they are regular ovals in shape, measuring from I'Ofl to IT7 in length, by 0-74 to 0-77 in breadth. 
The figure on the Plate accompanying this article is that of a male shot on the Sittawak ganga, a large 
affluent of the Kelani ganga. 
