as the species has only been found as a winter visitor to the south of China. The first
specimen sent by Swinhoe to Dr; Sclater turned out to be a'-young Turdus cardis^ which was
apparently despatched by mistake (c f Sclater, Ibis, 1861, p. 37, 1868, p. 196). I t was only
when Swinhoe returned to England in 1862, with his collections, that the bird was recognized
as a distinct species, and was named T. hortulorum by Dr. Sclater, after the gardens in which
it was first noticed in Macao. Swinhoe afterwards procured specimens at Canton and Amoy,
between December and April, and also met'with it at Chefooln Northern China in May.
Mr. Styan has found this Ouzel during its migration through the Lower Yangtze Valley
in small numbers both in spring and autumn (Ibis, 1891, p. 332; 1894, p. 835). Near Foochow
Mr. Bickett has also met with it, and' he has presented a specimen to the British Museum.
Mr. La Touche, however, considers it to be rather uncommon. there (Ibis, 1887, p. 216), but
on the hills to the west of Swatow it appears to be common in winter (Ibis, 1892, p. 412).
The nest is described by Taczanowski as composed of fine bents mingled on the outside
with larger stems of dry herbaceous plants and a large number ot rootlets and fine elastic
stems, more abundantly distributed on the upper edge, and with a smaller number in the internal
hollow. On the exterior aspect of the nest these materials are plentifully plastered with clay,
mixed with fragments of dry grass. The external diameter of the nest is 4*2 inches, its height 2'0,
diameter of the interior 2*75, its depth 1 *2-1*6.
An* egg collected by Mr. Janskowski at Sidemi is said by Taczanowski to be similar in
colour to that of the Common Blackbird of Europe, The ground-colour is pale sea-green,
varied with numerous superficial spots of a light rufous, mixed with other streaks of even
lighter reddish colour; these streaks are mostly irregular, oblong in shape, and mixed together
without any order, after the manner of Thrushes’ eggs. Axis 1*0, diam. 0*7.5.
Adult male. General colour above light slaty-grey, the wing-coverts like the back; bastard-
wing, primary-coverts, and quills blackish-brown, externally slaty-grey; tail dark slaty-grey;
sides of face, ear-coverts, and cheeks light slaty-grey, with a slight tinge of orange-buff on
the hinder part of the cheeks; ear-coverts with very indistinct whitish shaft-lines; throat dull
white, with a few streaks of dusky brown; lower throat and fore-neck uniform light slaty-grey;
centre of breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts pure white, the lateral coverts with dusky ashy
margins; sides of the breast and flanks rich orange-rufous, including the under wing-coverts
and axillaries; sides of lower flanks slaty-grey; thighs light orange-buff; quills dusky below,
shaded with ashy-buff on the inner webs: “ bill yellowish-brown, yellow at the gape; feet
ochreous flesh-colour; iris deep hazel ” {Swinhoe). Total length 8 inches, culmen 0'8, wing 4*45,
tail 2*75, tarsus 1*2.
Adult female. Differs from the male in being darker slate-colour above; the lower back,
rump, and upper tail-coverts clear slaty-grey; wings browner than the back, with faint traces
of rufous edges on the wing-coverts; tail dull slaty-brown; crown of head, sides of face, and
sides of neck like the back, the ear-coverts with whitish shaft-lines; cheeks and throat white,
with a few small black streaks, and separated by a broad malar line of black, composed of triangular
black spots; lower throat and fore-neck ashy-grey, mottled with triangular spots of black at
the ends of the feathers; centre of breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts white, the latter
externally edged with dusky grey; thighs dull orange-rufous; sides of breast and flanks bright
orange-rufous, as well as the under wing-coverts and axillaries; quills dusky below, a little
more ashy on the inner webs. Total length 8 inches, culmen 0*75, wing 4*35, tail 2*/, tarsus 1’05.:.
An adult female, according to Swinhoe, had the colours ot the soft parts as follows: Bill
dusky yellow-ochre, patched on the tip and at the base of the upper mandible with light brown; the
angle of the mouth and the inside of the latter bright yellow; eyelids pale yellow; legs, toes, and
claws brownish ochre, washed with yellow, conspicuously so on the under surface of the tarsus.”
The young male is said by Swinhoe to have no breast-band, but the “ bill is light brown,
the feet and toes brownish flesh-colour, darkest on the joints of the toes; the angle of the mouth
and the inside of the latter orange-yellow.”
The descriptions are taken from a pair of adult birds in the Seebohm Collection from the
mouth of the Amoor, and the figures on the Plate are also drawn from specimens in the same
coUection. W B- SJ