Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 2).djvu/156

142 688. Geocichla albigularis. The Nicobar Ground-Thrush.

Geocichla albogularis, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xvi, p. 146 (1847) ; Hume, S. F. ii, p. 221 (part.) ; id. S. F. iv, p. 289 (part.) ; id. Cat. no. 355 bis (part.) ; Seebohm, S. F. ix, p. 99 ; id. Cat. B. M. v, p. 175.

Coloration. Resembles G. citrina, sex for sex, but differs in having the chin and throat white, and the lores and cheeks also whitish ; the median wing-coverts are not tipped with white ; the under tail-coverts are much tipped and otherwise marked with greenish or slaty brown ; and the chestnut of the hind neck descends on to the upper back.

The colour of the bill &c. does not appear to have been re- corded.

Length about 8-5 ; tail 2'8 ; wing 4 ; tarsus 1-2 ; bill from gape 1-05.

Distribution. The Nicobar Islands.

689. Geocichla andamanensis. The Andaman Ground-thrush. Geocichla albogularis, Blyth, apud Wald. Ibis, 1874, p. 138 ; Hume, S. F. ii, p. 221 (part.), iv, p. 289 (part.) ; id. Cat. no. 355 bis (part.).

Geocichla andamanensis, Wald. A. M. N. H. (4) xiv, p. 156 (1874) ; Hume, S. F. ii, p. 495 j Seebohm, S. F. ix, p. 100 ; id. Cat. B. M. v, p. 175.

Coloration. Resembles G. citrina. Differs in having the forehead, crown, and nape suffused with brown, in having no white tips to the median wing-coverts, and in having the chin white.

From G. albigularis it differs in having the forehead, crown, and nape suffused with brown, and the throat chestnut. Iris umber-brown ; bill horny brown, whitish at base of lower mandible ; legs fleshy white ( Wardlaw Ramsay).

Length rather more than 8 ; tail 2*9 ; wing 4-1 ; tarsus ! ; bill from gape 1.

Distribution. The Andaman Islands.

Genus PETROPHILA, Swains., 1837.

The genus Petrophila contains those Rock-Thrushes which have a short wing and a comparatively long tail. The males have the under wing-coverts and axillaries entirely of one colour and the lower plumage blue, chestnut, or black, or a combination of these colours. The females have the lower plumage squaniated or irregularly barred and the under wing-coverts and axillaries also barred.

The Rock-Thrushes frequent open rocky ground and are generally solitary in their habits. They make their nests in holes of walls and rocks.