  Turdus harmonicus, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp. p. xli. Harmonic Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 182.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. x. p. 217.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 120. Grey-headed Thrush, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 118. Collurincla cinerea, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 214.—Jard. and Selb. Ill. Orn., vol. ii. pi. 71.—Less. TraitÉ d’Orn., p. 374.—Ib. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 131.—Swains. Class, of Birds, vol. ii. p. 221.—G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, 2nd Edit., p. 49. Lanius Saturninus, Nordm. Turdus dilutus, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xl?—Bonn, et Vieill. Ency. MÉth. Orn., part ii. p. 660? Dilute Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 182?—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. x. p. 208?—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 120? Turdus badius, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xli?—Bonn, et Vieill. Ency. MÉth. Orn., part ii. p. 670? Port Jackson Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 183.—White’s Voy., pl. in p. 157.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. x. p. 198.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 121. Austral Thrush, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 124? As the members of this genus, originally formed on a single species, are now found to be numerous, but all very nearly allied, it becomes necessary to describe this, the typical bird, with particular accuracy. Nearly every colony appears to be inhabited by its own peculiar species; and accordingly we find that the present bird is an inhabitant of New South Wales, but extends its range westward as far as South Australia and eastward to Moreton Bay, and perhaps farther. The Colluricincla harmonica is one of the oldest known of the Australian birds, having been described in Latham’s “Index Ornithologicus,” figured in White’s “Voyage,” and included in the works of all subsequent writers. So generally is it dispersed over the countries of which it is a native, that there are few localities in which it is not to be found; the brushes near the coast as well as the plains of the interior being equally frequented by it; it is a very active bird, living much among the branches, and feeding upon insects of various kinds, caterpillars and their larvÆ. The term harmonica applied to this species is very appropriate; for although it does not give utterance to any continued song, it frequently pours forth a number of powerful swelling notes, louder but less varied than those of the Song Thrush of Europe; and it is somewhat singular that these notes are emitted while in the act of feeding, and while engaged in the search of its insect food. The site of the nest is very varied; sometimes a hollow in the upright bole of a small tree is chosen; at others the ledge of a decayed branch, or a rock, or any similar situation. The nest is a cup-shaped, and somewhat slight structure, externally composed of the outer and inner bark of trees and leaves, and lined with fibrous roots; I have occasionally seen wool intermingled with the outer materials. The eggs, which are three in number, and one inch and two lines long by ten lines broad, are of a beautiful pearly white, thinly sprinkled with large blotches of light chestnut-brown and dull bluish grey, the latter colour appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. In one instance I found a nest of eggs which were brownish white instead of pearly white. The sexes are very nearly alike, the only difference being that the female has the bill browner and an indication of a white stripe over the eye. Head brownish grey, with an indistinct line of brown down the centre of each feather; back of the neck, back and shoulders olive-brown; wings slaty black margined with grey; rump and tail grey, the latter with dark brown shafts; under surface light brownish grey, fading into pure white on the vent and under tail-coverts and greyish white on the throat, each of the throat and breast feathers with a fine line of brown down the centre; irides dark brown; bill blackish brown; feet dark greenish grey. The Plate represents a male and a female on a nest, all of the natural size. COLLURICINCLA RUFIVENTRIS: Gould. |
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