MERULA UNICOLO R, Gould.
Affgehan "Thrush.

Turdus unicolor, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 136.

— = t ray and Mitch. Gen, of Binds, vol i, p. 220, Vad, ne. 113:

 

Tue Merula unicolor is evidently a rare species in those districts of India which have been visited by the
collector, for Mr. Blyth does not include it in his ‘ List of the Birds in the Museum of the Asiatic Society
at Calcutta,” and there is no example of it in the Museum of the Honourable East India Company ; it was
also absent from the British Museum until the Trustees obtained the original of my description on the dis-
persion of the Zoological Society’s mounted collection. The preservation of this typical specimen has enabled
me to verify the species by comparison with two other examples now before me, one of which I obtained
from the late Captain Boys, and another which forms part of the collection made by Dr. A. Leith Adams, of
the 22nd Regiment, and who procured it in Cashmere; here, then, we have a positively ascertained locality
in which the bird is to be found; a point of importance, since neither Captain Boys’ nor the original type
is labelled with the name of the place in which it was killed.

It seems that, forgetful of having named this species wnicolor twenty-one years ago, I have more recently
proposed another name for it, that of schistaceus; I believe and hope, however, that it has not appeared in
print. The term unzcolor originally applied to it is not an inappropriate one when the wings of the bird are
closed, or when it is viewed from above; but if the wings are raised, the axillaries will be found to be strongly
tinted with orange, as shown in the smaller figure, which is given in order that the species may be more
readily recognized. In one of the specimens there is also some white on the lower part of the abdomen and
on the under tail-coverts. The following brief note has been furnished by Dr. Adams, and, I regret to say,
is all that is known respecting the species.

‘This bird appears to be confined to the Cashmerian and surrounding ranges; it is very plentiful in the
valley. Its habits very much resemble those of the Zurdus musicus. Its song, which is composed ofa
few but little-varied notes, is often repeated. Considerable variety occurs in the colouring of the plumage,
some individuals being darker than others. The sexes differ in the male being destitute of spots on the
neck and throat.”

General plumage ash-grey, lighter beneath; middle of the abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts white ;
axillaries and under wing-coverts orange-red.

Dr. Adams states that ‘the female has the bill and the margins of the eyelids pale yellow; the throat
obscurely spotted with black ; the breast and under surface ashy white ; and the legs pale yellow.”

The Plate represents the bird the size of life.