Dr. P. L. Sclater on Eastern-Asiatic Thrushes. 195 
our horses, and were each set upon by a couple of natives, who 
seemed to think it impossible for an Englishman to reach the 
top without hoisting him up. Partially availing ourselves of 
their assistance, we arrived there after a little trouble (for the 
grass was wet and slippery), and found ourselves on the brink of 
a tremendous crater-like gorge, occupied by a bright rainbow, 
far, far, below us. A magnificent sight it must be in fine weather; 
but the clouds filled the valley beneath, so that its bottom was 
hardly discernible, and clung obstinately to the mountains 
above, only for a few moments breaking to reveal Pico Grande, 
the highest point of the island. Being by this time wet through, 
we thought it advisable to retrace our steps. Riding down hills 
is generally worse than riding up them. Here it was awful work, 
but we at last accomplished it without mishap. We returned 
by a different route, crossing the valley before mentioned much 
lower down, over a fine bridge and a half-finished causeway 
leading to a level new road—a gratifying change after the ups 
and downs we had encountered. I went to visit a gentleman (Dr. 
CFHerlehy) who, I had been kindly informed by Mr. Johnson, 
was great bird-fancier, and in whose house I hoped to see ex¬ 
amples of the curious variety of the Blackcap ( Curruca heinekeni , 
Jard. & Selby) and other Madeiran birds alive. Unfortunately 
the Doctor was not at home, and, what made it worse, had the 
key of his pets with him. Then, following my companions, we 
went on board ship ; and about an hour after sunset, amid the 
blaze of blue-lights, the ‘Tamar* steamed away, and Madeira 
vanished into a memory. 
Elveden, February 28, 1863. 
XX.— Note on the Eastern-Asiatic Thrushes of the Genus 
Turdus. By P. L. Sclater. 
In Mr. Swinhoe’s paper on the ornithology of Hongkong, 
Macao, and Canton (‘Ibis/ 1861, p. 23), he mentions “a 
species of Red-wing, with grey-olive back in the male, and 
orange-tinted flanks,” as “ abundant, especially in the Camoens 
Garden, Macao, where they were nesting.” Unfortunately the 
specimen forwarded to me as supposed to be of this species did 
