PHYLLORNIS MALABARICUS.
Malabar Phyllornis.

Turdus Malabaricus, Gmel. edit. of Linn. Syst. Nat., vol. i. p. 837.—Lath. Ind. Orn.,. vol. i. p, 349:

Yellow-fronted Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. iii. p. 60.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 64.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. x. p.: 252,

Le Petit Merle de la Céte de Malabar, Sonn. Voy. Ind., tom. ii. p: E92:

Chloropsis Malabaricus, Jard. and Selby, Syn. Spec. Chiloropsis in Ill. Orn., vol. ii. text to pl. 100. sp. 1.—Jerd. Ill.
Ind. Orn., text to pl. 43.

Phyllornis malabarica, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 124, Phyllornis, sp. 2.

Frontalis, Natt. Syn. MS. Pelz. Sitz. der Math. Classe der Kais. Akad. der Wissensch., Zwanz. Band,
1856, p. 157. taf. 2. fig. 1.

 

Tuere is no doubt in my mind about the present bird being identical with that described by Latham under
the name of the Yellow-fronted Thrush (vide his ‘ General History of Birds,’ vol. vy. p- 64); it is equally clear
to me that it is the “Petit Merle de la Céte de Malabar ” of Sonnerat’s ‘Voyage aux Indes Orientales et
a la Chine,’ tome ii. p. 192; my old friend Natterer’s name of frontalis therefore cannot for a moment
be entertained. I mention this fact, because the bird has been lately figured under that appellation in the
foreign journal referred to above.

In size the Phyllornis Malabaricus fully equals, if it does not exceed, the P. Jerdoni; but it differs from
that species in the orange colouring of the fore-part of the head. The entire blue throat of the Hodg'soni,
another species inhabiting the northern parts of India, is a character which, if attended to, will enable the
ornithologist to distinguish it from that species.

As its name implies, this species is found in the country of Malabar and the western coast of the peninsula
generally. The Vienna journal above quoted states that Baron Hugel found it at Khelgat near Goa.

«This species,” says Mr. Jerdon, “is much more rare than the P. Jerdoni, preferring the vicinity of lofty
jungles, and is only to be found about the western coast, and some of the denser portions of the jungles
of the Eastern Ghauts.”

The male has the forehead fine rich orange; lores, chin, and throat deep velvety black, within which the
usual blue moustache-like mark descends from the base of the lower mandible; all the upper and under
surface, wings, and tail grass-green, washed with yellow, where this colour meets the black throat-mark ;
shoulders fine shining verditer blue; inner webs of the primaries and secondaries brownish black ;_ bill
black, inclining to flesh-colour at the base ; irides yellowish hazel ; feet olive-grey.

The female differs in having the throat bluish green, and the forehead and sides of the neck washed with
yellow.

The Plate represents both sexes of the natural size, on the Astilbe rubra.