341. Hodgsonius phaenicuroides, Hodgson.

Bradypterus apud Hodgson, Gray, Zool. Misc., and Cat. Birds of Nepal. - J. A. S., XVI., 136. Blyth, Cat. 1052 - Horsf., Cat.App. 643.

The White-bellied Short-wing.

Descr. - Male, upper parts uniform dark cyaneous or deep slaty blue ; beneath similar, but paler, and passing into white on the middle of the belly; winglet tipped white ; tail black, all, except the central part, ferruginous on the basal half; wings blackish ; under tail-coverts cyaneous, edged with white.

Bill dusky, reddish at the gape ; legs pale red-brown ; irides dark brown. Length 7 1/2 inches ; extent 9 1/2 ; wing 3 ; tail 3 3/8; bill at front 11/20; tarsus 1 1/8.

The female is wholly brown above, paler brown below, passing to albescent on the middle of the belly and with a slight rufous tinge on the base of the caudal feathers.

This bird has considerable affinities for the Redstart group, and particularly, I think, to the Shama (Copsychus macrourus) ; and it appears to be one of the numerous links that bind together the Thrushes and the Sylviadae. Blyth, indeed, places it with the Copsychus group ; but, taking all its characters, and its near relationship to Callene, I prefer retaining it here, as does also Moore.*

It is a rare bird, and has only as yet been found in Sikhim. I did not myself observe it, but it was described to me as haunting thick underwood.

Whistling Thrushes.

It is generally agreed that these fine birds show more affinity to Pitta than to the true Thrushes or Blackbirds. Temminck, indeed, described one as a Pitta. They are birds of rather large size, black plumage, glossed with blue; some have black, others yellow bills; and they have been divided into Arrenga, Lesson, for the black-billed, and Myiophonus for the yellow-billed species. The blue shoulder-spot has been already seen, in a slight degree, in Callene, and is repeated through many of the Ground Thrushes. Their flight is tolerably vigorous.