The male described is one collected by Mr. C. B. Cory at Puerto Plata, in San Domingo,
on the 2nd of January, 1883, and the female was obtained by the same gentleman at La Vega,
in ¿he same island, on the 14th of August, 1883.. Both specimens are in the Salvin-Godman
Collection. The bird figured is a specimen in the Sclater Collection, obtained in Haiti by
Mr. C. B. Cory. [R- B. S.]
MIMOCICHLA A L B IV E N TR I S , Sclater.
DOMINICA GREY THRUSH.
Mimocichla ardesiaca alUventris, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1889, p. 326; Cory, Cat. West-Indian Birds,
p. 157 (1892).
Mimocichla verrillorum, Allen, Auk, viii. pp. 217, 317 (1891); Verrill, Trans. Conn. Acad viii.
p. 33 (1892).
Mimocichla albiventris, Allen, I. c.
M. similis M. ardesiaca, sed paull6 minor, abdominis albedine magis extensa et pallide cervino tincta.
T he distinctness of the Dominica Mimocichla from that inhabiting S. Domingo and Porto Rico was
first pointed out by Dr. Sclater in his account of the collections made by Mr. Ramage in the island.
Dr. J. A. Allen also came to the same conclusion from an examination of specimens obtained
in Dominica by the brothers G. E. & A. H. Verrill, after whom Dr. Allen named the species.
Although it is true that Dr. Sclater only looked upon the Dominican Mimocickla as a race of
M. ardesiaca, and in his list of Mr. Ramage’s birds actually speaks of it under the latter name, the
title of albiventris which he applied to the Dominican bird, having priority, must be accepted for it.
M. albiventris is certainly very closely allied to M. ardesiaca, but the typical specimens show
much more white on the abdomen,.as it extends over the lower breast as well; there is also a tinge,
of buff on the white abdomen, which Dr. Allen did not fail to point out, and the white tips to the
tail-feathers are more extended in the Dominica form. A slight appearance of buff on the white
abdomen is sometimes to be seen in specimens of M. ardesiaca, and the extent of the white on this
part of the body also varies in a series of individuals.
Mr. Ramage obtained his two specimens at Batalie, in the dry region on the leeward or western
side of the island, in March 1889. Me'ssrs. Verrill met with the species at Lasswa, on the windward
or eastern side, where it was very rare and shy. They o b s e r v e “ From the testimony of the natives
and our own experience, its habitat is mainly confined to that portion of the island, though once or
twice its notes were heard near Bass-en-ville. The notes were a shrill plaintive whistle.” As the
above-named writers remark, this is probably the No. 6 Thrush mentioned by Lawrence in his
account of the collections made in Dominica by Mr. F. Ober, as having been “ described by several
persons, something like the Thrush, but with yellow bill and legs; the nest and eggs being said by
the natives to resemble those of the 1 Trembleur ’ (Oinclocerthia mficauda).”
The type-specimen m e a s u r e sT o ta l length 9-5 inches, culmen 0-9, wing 4-7, tail 3 9,
tarsus 1-5, According to Dr. Allen, there is no difference of any importance in the colour of the
sexes; but the female obtained by Messrs. Verrill was slightly smaller than the male, and the abdomen
more deeply tinted with yellowish buff; bill, legs, and feet yellow; iris dark brown. [R. B. S.]