TURDUS ATROGULARIS, Temm. 
Black-throated Thrush. 
Ttirdus atrogularis, Temm. Man. d’Qrn., 2nd edit., tom. i. p. 1 69, and tom. iii. p. 93. 
dubius, Bechst. 
Bechsteinii, Naum. Naturg., neue Ausg., tom. ii. p. 310, tab. 69. fig. 1. 
atrigularis, Schleg. Rev. Grit, des Ois. d’Eur., p. xli. 
Merula atrogularis, Bonap. Geog. and Comp. List of Birds of Eur. and N. Anier., p. 1 7. 
Cichloides Bechsteini, Kaup. 
Planesticus atrogularis, Jerd. Birds of India, vol. i. p. 529. 
A PINE example of this species having been killed in England, another instance is thereby afforded of the fact 
that many birds whose natural homes are in the northern and eastern portions of Asia wander occasionally 
into countries further west. Mostly they are solitary individuals that thus shift their quarters ; but in some 
cases the movement is effected by hundreds, as in the well-known instance of the Sand-Grouse (JSyrrhapies 
paradoxus'), flocks of which resorted to Europe in the years 1859-60. In like manner examples of the 
present species have, now and then, for a long period visited the European countries contiguous to Siberia 
and Western Asia, but until lately have not been found so far westward as the British Islands. The parr 
ticulars connected with the solitary example of the bird that has as yet been detected on our shores, 
and from which one of my figures on the opposite Plate has been taken, will be found in the following 
notes forwarded to me by T. J. Monk and George Dawson Rowley, Esqs. The former gentleman says, 
“ On Wednesday last (Dec. 23, 1868) a fine example of the Black-throated Thrush (Turdus atrogularis) 
was shot near Lewes, and is now in my possession. It is, I believe, the first obtained in Great Britain. The 
specimen, which proved to be a male, is in excellent condition, and has been well preserved by Swaysland, of 
Brighton. Mr. G. D. Rowley will take it to London and exhibit it at the meeting of the Zoological Society 
on the 13th of January next, and will leave the bird with you, should you wish to figure it in your ‘Birds of 
Great Britain.’ ” “ I think it a matter of interest,” says Mr. Rowley, “ that a Thrush belonging to the fauna 
of Central Asia, and only an accidental visitor to Europe, should be found on the south coast of Great 
Britain.” Mr. Blyth says (in ‘ The Ibis,’ new series, vol. iv. 1868, p. 355) that some examples of T. atrigularis 
have the tail more or less rufous, as in T. ruficollis , — and adds, “ I suspect that T. atrogularis and T. rujicollis 
are specifically identical. I believe, however, that most authors consider them distinct species, in which 
you also concur.” 
As the individual above mentioned was not allowed to live an hour after it was seen, no opportunity was 
afforded for observing its habits and actions — ^ivhich is the more to be regretted, inasmuch as but little has 
been written respecting them by any one : that tLey vary in some slight degree from those of the other 
members of the family there can be little doubt, since in form and general appearance the bird differs from 
all the European Thrushes — a circumstance which has led to two or three generic appellations being applied 
to it, as will be seen in the above list of synonyms. In one respect it is certainly very peculiar, namely 
in the great variation of plumage to which it is subject — some individuals having speckled and spotted 
throats and sides, somewhat like true Thrushes, while in others the throat is jet black. I have not seen any 
with reddish tail-feathers or any rufous colouring on the throat sufficiently apparent to warrant my believing 
the T. atrogularis and the T. rujicollis of Pallas to be one and the same species, as they are believed to be 
by some ornithologists ; and as I find that Mr. Jerdon keeps them separate, I shall continue to do the same ; 
for if they really be identical, then many other so-called species, such as T. Naumanni and T. fiscatus must 
be united, and the list of birds greatly diminished in number. 
“This Thrush,” says Mr. Jerdon, “is found throughout the Himalayas, inhabiting the higher ranges iu; 
the interior in summer, but descending to the lovver ranges in winter; and it is even occasionally found in 
the plains of Lower Bengal. Mr. Blyth records its having been shot at Barrackpore, near Calcutta. I 
found it not uncommon near Darjeeling in winter. It keeps to the more open woods, at a level of from 
three to eight thousand feet, and is occasionally seen on roads and pathways. It feeds on insects and 
berries.” 
Dr. Bree remarks that “ this bird is an inhabitant of Siberia, whence it occasionally migrates into Russia, 
Hungary, Silesia, and Austria. Its occurrence in Europe, however, is only accidental ; and little or nothing 
is known of its habits. It ranges south as far as Nepaul.” 
I am especially indebted to Arthur Grote, Esq., for some fine examples of this bird which he has 
