J.G.Keulemans Kfch
MIMOCICHLA A R D E S IA C A
H a n h a rb im p.
MIMOCICHLA A R D E S IA C A , Vieill.
SAN DOMINGO GREY THRUSH.
Merle cendré d'Amérique, D’Aubent. PI. Enl. iv. pi. 560. fig. 1.
Le Tilly ou, La Grice cendrée d'Amérique, Montb. Hist. Nat. Ois. iii. p. 314 (1775).
Turdusplúmbeas (neo Linn.), Vieill. Ois. Amér. Sept. ii. p. 2, pi. 58 (1807).
Turdm ardosiaceus, Vieill. Ene. Meth, p. 646 (1823); Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soo. Nat. Hist. ?i
p. 92 (1866).
Mimusplumbeus (nee Linn.), Bp. Consp. i. p. 276 (1850).
Galeoscoptes plumbeus (nec Linn.), Sallé, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 231 ; Sel. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 337.
Mimocichla ardosiaca, Baird, Review Amer. B. p. 39 (1864) ; Gundl. J. f. O. 1878, p. 165.
Turdus ardosiaceus, var. portoricensis, Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. xi. p. 93 (1866),
Mimocichla ardesiaca, Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 2 (1873); Seebohm, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. vi. p. 282 (1881); Cory, Birds Haiti & San Domingo, p. 18 (1885); id. B. West Ind.
p. 21 (1889); id. Cat. West-Indian B. p. 122 (1892).
T he present species inhabits Haiti and San Domingo, as well as the neighbouring island of Porto
Rico. Dr. Bryant was inclined to consider the species from the last-named island distinct, but
Mr. Cory does not recognize two forms, nor can I see any specific differences.
Mr. Cory has given the following note on this Thrush in his work on the ‘ Birds of Haiti and
San Domingo ’ :—“ The present Thrush is found wherever there are large trees in all parts of the
island. I t was very abundant in the vicinity of Fort Jacques, at an altitude of 2-500 feet above
the sea-level. On the coast it prefers the thickest and most secluded localities ; but high up in the
mountains we often observed it flying about in the. open. Its note somewhat resembles that of
the Robin (Turdus migratorius). The breeding-season is in December and January. A nest taken
near Puerto Plata, Jan. 9, contained two eggs, in which incubation had already commenced. The
nest was built about three feet from the ground, in the crotch of a small" tree, surrounded by a dense
growth of underbush. The. eggs are dull bluish white, heavily blotched with brown, and measure
I mkTX y ~q- lh e food consists mainly of insects and berries.”
Adult male. Above light slaty-grey, with more or less concealed black shaft-lines to the feathers,
broader and forming distinct black centres to tire plumes of the crown; wing-coverts and quills
black, with broad outer margins of slatv-grey, a little paler than the back ; tail-feathers black, all
but the centre ones with a white tip, which extends over both webs and increases in size towards
the outermost ; sides of face, cheeks, and ear-coverts blackish slate-colour, the lores and feathers
below the eye black ; at the base of the cheeks a small white spot ; throat white, with triangular
spots of black, which form a strongly marked malar line, and impart a streaked appearance to the
whole throat ; remainder of under surface of body light pearly slate-colour, with a faint tinge of
lavender-grey near the sides of the abdomen, which, with the under tail-coverts, is pure white ;
thighs, axillaries, and under wing-coverts slaty-grey ; “ bill, eyelids, and feet vermilion-orange ; iris
reddish brown (C. B. Cory). Total, length 10*0 inches, culmen I'D, wing 5*2, tail 4-2, tarsus 1-5.
Adult female. Similar to the male. Total length 9-4 inches, wing 4-9.
2 Jt 2