365. Planesticus atrogularis, Temm.

Turdus apud Temminck -  Blyth, Cat. 939 - Horsf., Cat. 272  - Gould,  Birds of Europe, pi. 75 - T. dubius, Bechstkin. Mach-reycha, Beng. (hence ' Richell Thrush' of Latham.)

The Black-throated Thrush.

Descr. - Above, pale cinereous-brown; wings and tail darker brown ; tail occasionally tinged with rufous ; beneath, the throat albescent-brownish, with some undefined dark markings, the centre of each feather being dark, and lower down these coalesce and form a broad dark brown, or blackish, pectoral gorget ; the rest, beneath, pale cinereous-white, a few of the feathers next the breast centred or barred with dusky; under wing-coverts rusty; lower tail-coverts indistinctly barred with brown and rusty.

The female wants the pectoral gorget, but has the breast buff, mixed with dusky, and some brown striae on the sides of the throat and breast; the abdomen, too, is whiter than in the male, and the lower tail-coverts are buffy-white.
Bill yellow, dusky at the tip ; orbits yellow; legs horny-yellow- brown ; irides dark brown. Length 10 1/2 inches ; extent 17 ; wing 5 3/4 ; tail 4 3/8 ; bill at front 5/8.

This Thrush is found throughout the Himalayas, inhabiting the higher ranges in the interior, in summer, but descending to the lower ranges in winter ; and it is even occasionally found in the plains of Lower Bengal. Mr. Blyth records its having been shot at Barrackpore, near Calcutta. I found it not uncommon near Darjeeling in winter. It keeps to the more open woods, at a level from 3,000 to 8,000 feet, and is occasionally seen on roads and pathways. It feeds both on insects and berries. Gray gives this species as the type of Cichloides, Kaup.