Gould, P.Z. S., 1836, p. 7. Type, K. tricolor Vieill.
The genus Kittacincla contains the Shamas, of which one species is found in India, represented by several races in various areas.
The names under which these races have hitherto been known have been very much confused. Sharpe ignored the name macroura altogether in the British Museum Catalogue though there can be no contention about the Turdus macrourus var. 6 of Gmelin (Syst. Nat., i, p. 820, 1788: Pulo Condore) being the first and proper name for the Shama. Turdus tricolor of Vieillot (Ois. d'Afrique, iii, pi. 114, 1802: ? Islands of the South Sea) is also beyond doubt a true Shama, and Sundevall (Krit. Framst. Levaill., p. 37) says : "This is Turdus macrourus ex Java and Malacca."
Turdus macrourus tricolor is therefore the name for the Javan bird, and Hartert's omissa (Nov. Zool., ix, p. 572, 1902 : Java) becomes a synonym.
Gryllivora longicauda of Swainson is a synonym of tricolor.
Kittacincla macroura suavis (Sclater, P. Z. S., 1801, p. 186: Borneo) is the name which must be used for the Bornean race, to which the Sumatran race is closely allied.
This leaves no name available for the Indian bird, and J have therefore now named it indica.
The genus Kittacincla differs from Copsychus in having a long, more strongly graduated tail which considerably exceeds the wing in length. It appears to be the forest-representative of the civilization-loving Magpie-Robin.
Key to Subspecies.
A. Abdomen chestnut or chestnut-rufous. ,
a. Upper plumage glossy black………….K. m. macroura, p. 117. & K. m. indica, p. 118.
b. Upper plumage dark grey-brown.
a1, Darker both above and below……..K. m. macroura, p. 117.
b1. Paler both above and below ……….K. m. indica, p. 118.
B. Abdomen nearly all white…………..K. m. albiventris, p. 119.
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