355. Geocichla citrina, Latham.

Turdus apud Latham. - Blyth, Cat. 956 - Horsf., Cat. 259 -  T. Macei, Temminck, Pl. Col., 445 - T. lividus, Tickell - T. rubecula apud McLelland -  Duma, Bcng. - Hamshi-bong, Lepch.

The Orange-headed Ground-thrush.

Descr. - The whole head, neck, and lower plumage, pale brownish- orange; the chin and throat paling and albescent; the rest of the upper plumage blue-grey; a small white wing-spot on the median wing-coverts, and the primary coverts tipped black; lower part of abdomen paling towards the vent, which, with the lower tail- coverts, is white.

Bill horny-black; legs fleshy ; irides  dark brown. Length 8 ½ inches; extent 14 1/2 ; wing 4  1/4;; tail 3 ; bill at front 3/4; tarsus 1 1/4.

The female differs slightly, being tinged with olivaceous on the back, wings, and tail. A specimen in the Mus. As. Soc, Calcutta, from Dehra Doon, appears to be somewhat intermediate between this and the last species. The ears are mottled white and rusty; there is more white on the chin, and some on the breast and upper part of the abdomen ; but this color appears to be accidentally present, several of the feathers of the back being also white.

This Thrush is found throughout the whole range of the Himalayas, not exceeding  an elevation of from 4,000 to 5,000 feet. It is also found in most of the forests and well-wooded districts of Northern and Central India, extending rarely as low as North latitude 16°. I procured it from the jungles of the Eastern Ghats, inhabiting the same locality as the last species, though much more rare. It has also been obtained in Goomsoor; in the neighbourhood of Calcutta, where quite common in the cold season; and in the forests of Central India. I procured specimens in Sikhim, but only in the warmer valleys.   It extends through Assam to Burmah.

The Orange-headed Thrush keeps to woods and shady gardens ; and, like the last, prefers bamboo-jungle. It feeds on the ground on insects, turning over the leaves to find them ; and, as remarked by Blyth, often having its bill clogged with mud, from feeding in damp spots. It is shy and silent in general; but, during the breeding season, the male has a pretty song. Hutton found the nest at Mussooree in the forks of high trees, made of grasses, moss, stalks, and roots; and with three or four eggs, pale greenish, freckled with rufous, forming a sort of patch at the upper end.

Closely allied species are 67. innotata, Bl., from the Andamans, Nicobars, and Penang, rather darker, and wanting the white wing - spot; G. rubecula, Horsf., from Java; and G. rubiginosa, Mull., apud Bonaparte, from Malayana, if indeed this be distinct from Horsfield's bird.

The next species shows a different type of coloring, and leads to the Blackbirds.