thrush

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


This common English bird-name isapplied in Australia and New Zealand to four different generaof birds, viz. – –

1) Collyriocincla, the Shrike-Thrushes (q.v.); the name Collyriocincla is a compound of two Greek bird-names, kolluriown /corr. from kolluriowu in Morris/, `a bird,probably of the thrush kind, Arist. H. A. 9, 23, 2'(`L. & S.' /1869 p.864/), and kigalos, `a kind of wag-tail or water-ousel' (`L. & S.'). The nexttwo genera are derived in a similar way from gaer,earth, and 'opos, mountain.

2) Geocincla, the Ground-Thrushes (q.v.).

3) Oreocincla, the Mountain-Thrush (q.v.).

4) Pachycephala (q.v.); called Thrushes,but more often Thickheads (q.v.).

5) Turnagra (the New Zealand Thrushes), viz. – – T. hectori, Buller, North Island Thrush.

T. crassirostris, Gmel., South Island Thrush.

The name Thrush was also applied loosely, by the earlywriters and travellers, to birds of many other genera whichhave since been more accurately differentiated. The commonEnglish thrush has been acclimatised in Australia, Tasmania,and New Zealand.

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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