344. Hydrornis nipalensis, Hodgson.

J. A. S., VI., 103 - Pitta nuchalis, Blyth, J. A. S., XL, 188 -  and XIL, 961 - Horsf., Cat. 245  - Blyth, Cat. 904.

The Large Nepal Ground-thrush.

Syi-mya, Nepal - Toot-pho, Lepch.

Descr. - Plumage above dingy green, passing into fulvescent brown on the scapulars and wings; nape and back of neck verditer- blue ; occiput greenish ; forehead, crown, and sides of head, with all the under parts, dull rufous or rusty, palest on throat; vent and under tail-coverts fulvescent, in some almost albescent; lining of wings buff and dusky. Hodgson described the chin as often hoary, and a black triangular spot on each side, behind the ear, united in front by a gular band of the same hue. This is evidently caused by the base of the feathers of those parts being blackish, and is not seen except when the feathers are exposed, which, however, perhaps the living bird has the power of doing, as the Orthotomus exposes the similarly-formed black neck-spot. The sexes are nearly alike, but the female is duller, with the nuchal spot greenish, and the back more mixed with rufous. Hodgson says that the female has the black gular band interrupted.

Bill dusky, fleshy at the base; legs ruddy flesh-coloured; nails long, whitish ; irides lightish brown. Length 9 1/2 to 10 inches ; extent 16 ; wings 5 ; tail 2 3/4 ; tarsus 2 1/2 ;  bill at front 1.

This Large Ground-thrush is found in the S. E. Himalayas, in Nepal and Sikhim, and also in Arrakan, and also in the hill ranges of Assam. It is not very rare in the warmer valleys about Darjeeling, being generally found near the banks of streams, in forest, or thick underwood   Hodgson tells us that it feeds in swamps and rills, on various hard insects. I found the remains of insects in those which I examined.* Hodgson further remarks that it flies very badly, and is easily caught; and that it never perches save at night, and then only on low bushes. He examined the anatomy, and states that in this respect it resembles Thrushes generally; but that the intestinal canal is longer, being 30 inches in length.

To this group belongs P. caerilea, Raffles, of the Malayan peninsula and Sumatra;  and P. maxima, Forsten, from Gilolo, with blue shoulder-spots, white breast, and red abdomen.