WHITE’S THRUSH.

Turdus Whitei, Eyton.
Le Merle de White.

Turse specimens of this rare bird having been killed in Europe, two on the banks of the Elbe near Hamburgh,
and a third which was shot by Lord Malmesbury at Heron Court in Hampshire, in January, 1828, we have
deemed it necessary to include a figure of it in the present work.

While at Hamburgh we were fortunate enough to obtain one of the specimens taken there, from the person
who had it, in a fresh state ; this specimen now forms a part of the collection of T. B. L. Baker, Esq., of
Hardwicke Court, Gloucester, who doubtless values it as one of the greatest rarities of his collection.
Although we have placed this bird in the genus which comprehends the true Thrushes (the type of which is
the Zurdus musicus, Linn.), still we doubt not that this bird, with the Zurdus varius of Dr. Horsfield and
another from New South Wales, will be found to constitute a well-marked and distinct group among the
Merulide. From the greater length of their wings, we are led to believe that these birds possess very consi-
derable powers of flight, and that in all probability they are strictly migratory in their habits. When com-
pared with the true Thrushes a considerable difference may be observed in the form and length of the tail,
and also in the tarsi and toes.

In its general size the Zurdus Whitei exceeds by almost a fifth the Zurdus varius, while the bill is much
smaller: the length of the wing in Mr. Baker’s specimen of Turdus White: is six inches and three quarters,
while that of the Zurdus varius and of the species from New South Wales scarcely exceeds five inches and a
half. The great difference in size and the smaller bill will be sufficient to establish the specific value of this
fine bird, which has with much propriety been dedicated to the celebrated and kind-hearted White, whose
work on the Natural History of Selborne is not only fraught with instruction, but has given a decided impetus
to the study of this branch of knowledge in this country. This species is very common in Japan, and is in
all probability dispersed over a great part of Southern Siberia.

Crown of the head, back of the neck, back, rump, and upper tail-coverts light yellowish brown, each
feather tipped with a crescent-shaped mark of blackish brown ; Wwing-coverts and tertiaries dark brown tipped
with buffy brown; spurious wing dark blackish brown, crossed in the middle by a band of buff; primaries
dark brown on their inner webs, and buffy brown on the outer; four central and two outer tail-feathers pale
brown, the latter tipped with whitish; the remainder blackish brown; throat, centre of the abdomen, and
under tail-coverts white; the remainder of the under surface pale buff, each feather passing into deep buff
near the tip and terminating in a crescent of blackish brown ; bill and feet light brown.

Our figure is of the natural size.

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