H a n h a rt imp.
TURDUS TEPHRON0TUS
TURDUS TEPHRONOTUS, Cab.
AFRICAN BARE-EYED THRUSH.
Turdus tephronotus, Cab. J. f. O. 1878, pp. 205, 218, Taf. iii. fig. 2 ; Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit.
Mus. v. p. 226 (1881); Reicben. Vog. deutsch. Ost-Afr. p. 233, fig. 103 (1894).
Peliocichla tepkronota, Cab. J. f. O. 1882, p. 320.
T. rostro et pedibus flavis: notseo pallide scbistaceo: gutture albo, nigro striolato r gutture efc prsepectore
scbistaceis: pectore et hypocbondriis laete aurantiaco-rufis, abdomine medio albo: plaga postoculari
nudit flavd.
This delicately-coloured Thrush is distinguished from all its African allies by the conspicuous bare
patch of yellow skin which surrounds the eye. It is apparently restricted to a limited area in East
Africa, and does not enjoy the wide range of some of the allied species.
It was originally described by Dr. Cabanis from specimens brought by Hildebrandt from the
Tira River and N’di in the Teita country (J. f. O. 1878, p. 205), and Dr. Reichenow also records
it as an inhabitant of the Taveta district (Yog. deutsch. Ost-Afr. p. 233). Mr. F. J. Jackson
procured two specimens near Witu in June (Ibis, 1898, p. 139), and Fischer met with the
species at Kipini in July (J. f. O. 1879, p. 279) and at Barawa (J. f. O. 1885, p. 141), as
well as between Formosa Bay and Lamu (J. f. O. 1878, p. 277). From the latter place Sir John
Kirk has also forwarded examples (Shelley, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 574). Fischer met with it at
Kunumbu (J. f. O. 1878, p. 277), and Mr. Jackson has also procured the species at TangaDi near
Lamu (Shelley, Ibis, 1888, p. 299). It occurs also in Ugogo (Reichen. Yog. deutsch. Ost-Afr.
p. 233), where Emin Pasha procured a specimen in July at Matangesi. Mr. H. C. Y. Hunter
has also met with it on the Useri River in the Kilimanjaro district in July (Shelley, P. Z. S. 1889,
p. 363).
Mr. Jackson says that in habits and song this Thrush is exactly like our English Blackbird
(.Merula merula). The late Dr. Fischer remarks that he found it on the way from Formosa Bay to
Lamu in thorny bushes, and noticed that it kept up a vibrating motion of the tail. Hildebrandt
states that it was rare in Teita, being found in the thinly wooded parts of the country.
Adult male. General colour above clear bluish-grey, the wing-coverts like the back; bastard-
wing, primary-coverts, quills, and tail-feathers dark sepia-brown, externally like the back, the
edges of the primaries hoary-grey; crown of head like the back, with a faintly indicated line of
white above the eye; lores, and space round the eye bare and yellow; ear-coverts a little darker
grey than the crown; cheeks white, separated from the sides of the face by a line of black spots,
the malar line of spots being also very distinct; throat white, distinctly streaked with rows of
black spots; sides of neck, fore-neck, and chest clear bluish-grey, forming a broad chest-band;
breast and abdomen bright orange-rufous, a little paler on the thighs and centre of the breast, the lower
abdomen becoming gradually whiter; under tail-coverts pale buff, with ashy-brown margins, the
longer coverts for the most part ashy-brown, with the tip and a wedge-shaped centre to the feathers
pale buff; under wing-coverts and axillaries deep orange-rufous; quills dark brown below,
rufescent along the inner webs: bill “ orange ” (Jackson; Fischer), “ bright orange-red” {Emin) ; feet