204 
Letters , Announcements, fyc. 
former were labelled Trochalopterum cachinnans, Jerd./tlie 
latter Merula simillima, Jerd., but I saw at once that they 
were not of these species, and were to me unknown. I pointed 
out this to Mr. Harold Ferguson, who was with me, and asked 
him where the specimens were obtained. The specimens had 
been purchased, together with a number of other Southern 
Indian birds, from a native somewhere on the west coast by 
Mr. Atholl Macgregor, when he was Resident of Travancore ; 
and this is all that can be definitely ascertained about them; 
but Mr. Ferguson has promised to write to Mr. Macgregor 
for more definite information. 
As both species are more nearly allied to Nilgiri forms, it is 
not improbable that they were obtained on the higher ranges 
of the Palghat Hills, a portion of the country I have not yet 
worked, but which I hope to visit later in the year. 
The following are descriptions of both species; I may pre¬ 
mise by mentioning that the two specimens of each species 
are identical one with the other. Both the Blackbirds are, 
unfortunately, females; the Laughing-Thrushes are not 
sexed :— 
Trochalopterum cinnamomeum, sp. nov. 
Similar to T. cachinnans , Jerd., but entirely wanting the 
black markings of head, face, and chin; no ash-colour on 
the posterior portion of the supercilia. Lower parts deep cin¬ 
namon-brown ; chin darker. 
A broad superciliary stripe from base of nostril to nape, 
white as far as posterior angle of eye, and from thence 
gradually shading to ochreous buff; lores rusty brown; 
cheeks and ear-coverts ochreous buff. Chin, fore part of 
throat, and feathers at base of lower mandible very dark 
red-brown. Lower parts cinnamon-brown, olivaceous on 
flanks and lower tail-coverts ; lower wing-coverts and axil- 
laries pale cinnamon-brown, this colour tinging also the 
inner edges of the primaries; rest of under surface of pri¬ 
maries hair-brown. Top of head dark hair-brown, slightly 
tinged with ashy on the nape; rest of upper parts, including 
tail, olive-brown, with a hardly perceptible greenish tinge; 
