T U R D U S T) OM IN IC E N S I S
S exbohm, Th h u sh e s , PI. X .X Y V I II .
TURDUS DOMINICENSIS (Lour.).
DOMINICA THBTJSH.
Margarops herminieri (nec Lafr.), Lawr. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 52 (1878).
Margarops dominicensis, Lawr. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. in. p. 16 (1880).
Oichlhermmia dominicensis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. vi. p. 328 (1881); Cory, B. West
Ind. p. 22 (188.9).
T. mandibulii flavd: pedibus flavidis: regione periophthalmicd flav& nudS,: remigibus intus cinerascenti-brunneis,
minimi rufescentibus: gutture et prsepectore maculis nigris ornatis.
T he Dominica representative of T. herminieri differs from that species and from T. sanctce-lueice in
being very much darker both above and below, with the throat and breast deep ochraceous,
relieved by shaft-lines of brighter ochre and a sub-terminal spot of the latter colour, followed by a
spot of black, which gives a distinctly mottled appearance to the plumage. The brown edgings
to the flank-feathers are also broader and much darker. The lining to the quills is dull ashy and
not rufescent.
In Dominica Mr. Ober says that the bird is called “ Mauvis ” *. It is not abundant in the island,
and Mr. Ober gives the following note on the species :—“ This curious bird inhabits the high woods;
especially does it delight in the comparatively open places beneath the towering Gomier trees, where
perhaps a narrow trail has left the ground bare of leaves. There you will find where it has been
scratching with its strong feet. It is very shy, and being very good as food it is sought by the
mountaineers, who call it to them by imitating its cry of distress.”
The following description is copied from the sixth volume of the ‘ Catalogue of Birds .
Adult mule. General colour above dark olive-brown, the head rather duller, and having obscure
dusky margins to the feathers; wing-coverts like the back; quills dark brown, externally like the
back; tail-feathers dark brown, washed on their edges with olive-brown like, the back; lores
blackish brown; sides of face and ear-coverts russet-brown, the feathers mesially streaked with deep
ochraceous buff; a few streaks of ochraceous buff above the ear-coverts on the sides of the crown;
throat and chest rich ochraceous buff, the feathers broadly edged with fulvous-brown and spotted
with black at the ends, these spots being very distinct; remainder of under surface of body white,
with fulvous-brown margins, sometimes blackish; the whole breast and abdomen strongly mottled,
except the lower abdomen, which is white, like the under tail-coverts; the longer feathers of the
latter margined with olive-brown; thighs olive-brown, tipped with white; under wing-coverts and
axillaries pure white, narrowly edged with dark brown or sandy brown; quills ashy brown below,
lighter along the edge of the inner web: “ iris tea-colour” (F. Ober). Total length 9 inches,
culmen 1*1, wing 4’65, tail 3*1, tarsus l -6§. [R. B. S.]
* Hot “ Morer,” as Mr. Lawrence has transcribed the name from Mr. Ober’s labels.