BLIGHI 
28. 
MY I OPHONUS 
(BLIGHTS WHISTLING THRUSH) 
ADULT MALE AMD FEMALE 
Length 8 to 8.5 Inches; wing 4,2 to 4.4; tail 3.1 to 3.5; tarsus 1.4 to 
1.5; middle toe and claw 1.25; bill to gape 1.25. 
DISTRIBUTION 
The present species, which is one of our rarest hill birds, was discovert 
in 1868 by Mr Samuel Bllgfi. He obtained it at an altitude of about 4200 
feet, in forest on the brinks of the Leraastota Oya, which descends through 
the magnificent gorge below the Pite- Ratraalie estate, Haputale, to the town 
of Lemas. Since that time he has procured one or two examples, and tells 
me that he has seen it severgl times both in the Haputale and Kotmalie dis¬ 
trict. In July 1870, Mr Holdsworth procured a young bird near Newera Ellia 
and in 1875 a male in fine plumage was shot by myself on the Badulla road, 
just above the Hakgalla gardens; finally in December 1876, and in January i 
1877 Mr Cobbold, of Maskeliya, obtained two male examples on the Maskeliya 
Oya, a tributary of the Kelani, at about 3800 feet. In addition to the 
record of these few captures, I may mention that Mr Forbes Laurie met with 
an individual on his estate at Kabragalla, near Nawalapitlya, at an eleva¬ 
tion of about 3000 feet. This altitude is the lowest to which I have neard 
of Its ranging, and I have no doubt it will be found in other forests of 
similar elevation throughout the coffee districts, but I apprehend the j - 
gles of the main range form its chief habitat. It is no doubt more common 
than such isolated captures would lead us to belie/e, but being a denizen of 
forest clad mountain gorges, which are mostly difficult of access, it has 
hitherto almost entirely escaped observation. 
HABITS 
The very shy nature of this handsome bird has doubtless conduced to its 
non-discovery until so recerit a period. Mr Blyth, in his notes above quo¬ 
ted, remarked that'a Myiophonus, or whistling thrush, was not a likely Dird 
to have been overlooked; but nevertheless, such was the case, for until late 
years tie forests of the upper ranges had only been cursorily explored, and 
their most interesting novelties consequently remained to be discovered. 
It affects the vicinity of mountain streams, and is very wary, jseeping 
almost entirely to the shade of thick forests, and only now and then shewing' 
Itself on the rocks of the dashing torrents, where It will rest for a moment 
. 
