GARRULAX PICTICOLLIS, Swina.

Grey-banded Laughing Thrush.

Garrulax picticollis, Swinhoe, P. Z. 8., 1872, p. 554,

 

As is often the case with the birds of China and India, the present species is a close ally and representative
form of G. monilger of the Himalayas. It is about the size of that species, but differs in having the tail
tipped with reddish ochre instead of white, and in having a grey pectoral gorget.

This new Garrulax is one of the most recent species described by Mr. Swinhoe; but it has existed
previously in European collections, for the British Museum has had for years a specimen designated by the
late Mr. G. R. Gray as new to science, but no name was ever published ; and curiously enough, no sooner had
the bird been described, than a living specimen arrived in the Zoological Gardens.

We know little of the habits or economy of G. picticollis. Mr. Swinhoe states that the stomachs of the
specimens dissected contained smooth caterpillars, grasshoppers, seeds, and pulp of fig-like berries.

I reproduce the very complete description of the species given by the same gentleman (J. c.) :—

‘‘Loral region, extending into a streak over the eye, and a broad mark under eye, throat, and middle of
the belly white ; cheek black, spotted with white ; a black line from behind eye and another from base of bill
meet round the ear and extend in a broad band down side of neck, nearly meeting on breast, where it is
broken by buff feathers, which are only tipped with black ; upper parts yellowish olive-brown, rufous on the
back of the neck and hind edge of the necklace ; sides of the breast and belly robin-rufous, paler on the tibize
and vent. Wings coloured like the back ; the primaries and secondaries with their inner webs blackish brown,
the outer webs of many of the former olive-buff near their tips, otherwise margined with dark olive-brown ;
axillaries buff, with a few black spots on the carpal edge of wing, and dark primary Woe under wing
whitish, tinged with buff. Tail of twelve feathers, the centrals coloured as the back, with indistinet bars of
deeper shade; the fifth pair similar, but with reddish ochre tips, the remainder with broad oblique black
band, very broadly tipped (one inch and more) with rufous buff.

“The above description is taken from an adult female procured near the end of November 1871. The
fresh bird measured, length 123; wing 5:4, the first five quills graduated, oth, 6th, and 7th equal and
longest, 8th a little shorter ; tail 5:75, outermost feather 16 the shortest, outer five graduated, the fifth and
centrals equal ; tarse 1:9, Upper mandible and broad tomial edge of lower ao a ae : oe
horny, tinged with bluish; rim of eyelid blackish grey ; iris chestnut ; inside of mouth black ; legs leaden,
with paler claws.

‘‘ Another female, apparently younger than the | ae
inside of mouth dark green, with flesh-coloured tongue ; rim of eyelid tinged

ast, has the necklace deep bluish grey shaded with black

where it crosses the breast ;
SG. tare oo

with yellow. Length 12-9; wing 5:2; tail 5°6; tarsi 2°.

: : of the male sex, has the inside of mouth orange-yellow ; rim of eyelid the

aa oe ast, the imtermediate feathers not

same; necklace mixed with much bluish grey and widely broken on ne
tipped with black ; underparts light.

“The greater or less amount of black and grey in the ters
than to sexual difference or to age.”
The figure is taken from a skin lent to me by Mr.

seems due to individual variation, rather

Swinhoe, and represents the bird of the size of life.