•J.G.Kenlemins litll
Pag .1. GEO Cl C HL A PRINCE I .
g u t t a t a
NATA1 GEOTJND-THBUSH.
Turdus guttatus, Vigors, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 92.
Psojphocichla, guttata, Cab. J. f. O. 1860, p. 182.
Geodchla guttata, Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 168 (1881).
G. tectricibus alarum mediis et majoribus albo terminatis : pectore nigro maculato : rectricibus externis late albo
apicatis: lined, superciliari vix evidente.
T his species was described by Vigors from a specimen sent in a collection of birds shipped from
Port Elizabeth, and the typical example was presented to the Zoological Society of London; but it
does not appear to have.passed into the British Museum, as did most of the types belonging to the
Society’s old museum.
As far as is known, the present bird has not been found in any portion of the Eastern Cape
Colony, but it occurs in Natal. Here it was rediscovered by Sir Andrew Smith, who states that none
were found by him beyond the forests which border upon Port Natal. There he procured some
specimens in damp retired situations, and, when discovered, the birds were actively employed in
search of food beneath the brushwood.
I am not aware that the species has been met with in any other part of South Africa, and
Messrs. It. B. and J. D. S. Woodward have not procured it in Zulu-land. In East Africa, however,
it was found by Fischer at Kipini, in the Formosa Bay district (J. f. O. 1879, pp. 278, 287, 356).
Between Mombasa and the Tana River he says that the species was plentiful in some places on the
coast. According to him, it never leaves the forest, and was often to be seen on the ground,
especially in the neighbourhood of ants’ nests. It was generally observed in pairs, and was very shy
and difficult to shoot. He describes the song as very peculiar and wonderful, but not often heard.
The Natal Ground-Thrush appears to be more closely related to the Spotted-winged Ground-
Thrush than it is to any of its African relations; and though the two species differ in many little
details, the superficial resemblance between them is very striking. G. guttata is, however, a clearly
defined species and can easily be diagnosed. The first character—median and greater wing-coverts
tipped with large pure white fan-shaped spots—excludes every species of the section except ten
species. A second character—breast and flanks ornamented with black guttate spots—excludes
all the latter with the single exception of Geodchla sjpiloptera. From this species it is easily
diagnosed by a third character—outer tail-feathers with white terminal spots, an inch or more in
extent.
The adult male and female in spring plumage may be described as follows:—General colour of
the upper parts olive, slightly more fulvous on the head; lores nearly white; eye-stripe obsolete;
lesser wing-coverts olive-brown; median and greater wing-coverts blackish brown, with large white
terminal fan-shaped spots; primary-coverts blackish brown, with a pale olive streak on the outer
web; tertials olive-brown with obscure pale tips; secondaries and primaries brown, margined with
olive-brown on the outer webs; tail-feathers olive-brown, the outer pair with a deep (1£ inch)
terminal wedge of white, the two next pairs more or less tipped with white; ear-coverts buff, crossed
v o l . ' F