GOLD-VENTED THRUSH.
Tardus aurigaster,
Turdus chrysorhceus,
Hcematomis chrysorkaus,
Pycnonotus chrysorkmus,
VlKI-LOT.
TEMMINCK. LESSON.
SWAINSON.
THOMPSON.
Turdus—A Thrush. Aurigaster. Aurum—Gold. Gasti'r—The Belly.
T i n s is an African species, and as such was described by the celebrated
Le Vaillant, whose entertaining travels are so well known. As
far as appears, it may be rare even in its native country, for only
a pair were seen, one of which, the male, was shot by Le Vaillant's
companion, Klaas, on the banks of the Grootvis river, in Kaffirland,
but the other, the female, escaped, his gun being only a singlebarrelled
one, and though they searched the district for several days,
they saw no others, nor even the female again. In all probability,
however, the bird may be common in some one or more parts of that
vast continent.
The only other specimen of the Gold-vented Thrush that seems to
be on record was shot at Mount Beresford, in the county and near
the town of Waterford, in Ireland, in the month of January, 1838,
by a boy who was shooting Blackbirds, and by whom it was supposed
to be one of those birds. Both the season and the locality
must alike have been strange to it, for, as was Rizzio's, its 'home is
far away,' and on what errand, and through what combination of
circumstances it came hither, is beyond the hazard even of a conjecture.
Male; length, seven inches and a half; bill, black. A rudimentary
crest is formed by the feathers of the head when raised, they being
slightly elongated. Head on the crown, neck on the back, and nape,
brown. Throat and neck in front, brown, becoming lighter on the
breast, which fades below into dull white. Back, brown, not so dark
as the head. The wings have the first quill feather very short.