342. Myiophonus Horsfieldii, Vigors.

P. Z. S., 1831 - Gould, Cent. Him. Birds, pl. 20 - Jerdon, Cat. No. 79 - Blyth, Cat. 927 - Horsf., Cat. 282

The Malabar Whistling Thrush.

Descr. - General plumage black, more or less tinged with deep blue; a band on the forehead, not extending to the base of the bill, and shoulders, fine shining cobalt or smalt-blue ; some of the feathers of the breast and abdomen edged with the same.

Bill black ; legs brown-black; irides dark brown. Length 11 inches ; wing 6 ; tail 4 3/4 ; bill at front (through pendal plumes) 1 1/4 ; tarsus 7/8.

This fine Thrush is found throughout all the forests of Southern and Western India, from near the top of the Neilgherries (6,000 feet) to almost the level of the sea. It is not found on the plateau of the Neilgherries, but at Coonoor, Kulhutty, Kotagherry, &c. It is common in Coorg and the Wynaad, and prefersmoderate elevations; but I have killed it in Malabar at the foot of the chain of ghats. I have also seen specimens from the Pulney Hills, and Travancore ; but it is not found in any of the forests of the Eastern Ghats, nor in Central or Northern India. It especially delights in mountain torrents, and if there is a water-fall, it is sure to be found there. It feeds on various insects, earth-worms, slugs, shells, and also on small crabs, which I have very frequently found constituting its chief food ; and the remains of legs, &c, of these Crustacea are generally found on the rocks at the edge of every pool of water frequented by it. I once procured its nest, placed under a shelf of a rock on the Burliar stream, on the slope of the Neilgherries. It was a large structure of roots, mixed with earth, moss, &c, and contained three eggs of a pale salmon or reddish-fawn colour, with many smallish brown spots. I kept a bird, which I had wounded slightly, for some weeks, feeding it on earth-worms and snails, and every morning before sunrise I would hear its fine whistle. Its song; consists of four or five beautifully clear whistling notes, so like the whistle of a man or boy, as to be constantly mistaken for it; and it is known to many on the Neilgherries as the Whistling Thrush.   It would be a highly desirable and interesting cage bird. Allied to M. Horsfieldii, is M. cyaneus, Horsfield, the Pitta glaucina of Temminck, from Java.