i f
S I B E R IA N T H R U SH .
Turdus Sibericus, Pall.
Le Merle & sourcils blancs.
T h is fine and rare Thrush was first described by Pallas as au inhabitant of Siberia, but on referring to the
works of this author, his account of this species is so meagre that no information whatever is given relative
to its habits and manners, except that, like the other members of the genus, it possesses considerable powers
of song.
Were we more intimately acquainted with its economy, we doubt not that it would be found to differ in
some slight degree from that of the common species, as from the peculiar silkiness and dark colouring of its
plumage, together with its shorter tail, we cannot fail to observe a considerable difference in their form; and
in all probability the Turdus Sibericus will prove to be the intermediate form connecting the members of the
genus Petrodncla with the true Thrushes, especially if, on investigation, it should be ascertained that the
bird evinces a partiality for rocky situations.
From Siberia, where it inhabits the wooded mountains, it has been known occasionally to stray into Russia
and the Crimea, and hence it becomes necessary to add it to the list of European birds. Besides these localities
we can also state that it is a very common bird in Japan.
The female may be readily distinguished from the male by having a lighter-coloured head and neck, which,
with the whole of the under-surface, is spotted much after the manner of the typical members of the genus
Turdus.
The specimens from which our figures are taken were kindly forwarded to us by M. Temminck, and may
be thus described:
Male: forehead, crown of the head, and nape deep black; over each eye a broad stripe of white; all the
remainder of the plumage brownish black, each feather edged with slaty grey; bill and feet brown.
Female: forehead, crown of the head, and nape deep brown; chin and throat pale buff; sides of the face
and neck and all the under surface slaty grey irregularly spotted with buffy white; tips of the feathers on the
centre of the abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts tipped with dull white; primaries and secondaries brown;
the remainder of the plumage as in the male but lighter.
We have figured an adult male and female of the natural size.