MERIJLA KESSLER!
MERIJLA K E S S L E R I , Prjev.
PRJEWALSKI’S OUZEL.
Merula kessleri, Prjev. in Rowley’s Orn. Misc. ii. p. 198, pi. liv. (1877); Seebohm, Cat. Birds
Brit. Mus. v. p. 261 (1881).
M. castanea: rostro et pedibus flavis: pileo colloque nigricantibus: interscapulio canescente vel albido.
T h is beautiful Blackbird is of tbe same size as M. gouldi, but is distinguished by its black head and
whitish mantle.
The species was discovered by the late General Pijewalski, in Kansu or Ganssu, during his first
expedition; here also Berezowski met with it (Berez. & Bianchi, Aves Exped. Potan. Gansu, p. 100,
1891). According to Pijewalski, this is the northern limit of its range. In the Seebohm Collection
are several specimens obtained by Mr. A. E. Pratt at Ta-tsien-lu, and the Hume Collection
contains a female specimen obtained by Mr. Mandelli’s hunters in Eastern Tibet, beyond the Sikhim
frontier.
Dr. Pleske states that on Pijewalski’s third journey he met with the species at the town of
Donkyr on the upper reaches of the Chuanche River, on the mountains of Southern Kuku-nor, and m
Gansu, and on his fourth expedition on the north and south Tetung ranges, on the mountains near
Dorfe Bamba, in the southern ranges of Kuku-nor, and also on the Dytsehu River (Wiss. Result.
Prjew. Reise, Zool. ii. Vog. p. 21, 1889).
Dr. Oustalet, in his account of the collections made by M. Bonvalot and Prince Henri d’Orleans
(N. Arch. Mus. (4) v. p. 145), states that specimens were obtained during the expedition at Payoundou
and Tach61ing in Tibet in April. He remarks that the range of the species appears to be somewhat
restricted • it has been found by Pijewalski in Kan-su, where it breeds and descends to the lower
valleys in the cold season; it was afterwards discovered in the southern ranges of Kuku-nor and on
the banks of the Blue River, whence it extends in a south-westerly direction to the mountains of
Tibet.
General Pijewalski gives the following account of the species:—“ This Ouzel, named by me
after our well-known ichthyologist, Professor Kessler, was discovered by me in the Kan-su mountains,
where it inhabits the wooded and alpine bush-covered districts. I t principally keeps, however, to
the thick groves of juniper-bushes, which grow at a height of 1200 feet above the sea-level.
“ In its habits M. kessleri very much resembles M. gouldi, and sings equally well, usually
from the top of some tree. The call-note, however, which it utters in rising or when flying,
consists of rough monosyllables something like ‘ chock, chock, chock! ’
“ The first migrants were observed on the 15th of April. They arrived in pairs or small flocks
of from three to five, and were at that time usually seen in the thickets on the shores of mountain-
creeks. In the middle of May the nests were ready; and, judging from the loss of feathers on the
stomach, the male also takes his turn in hatching. About the end of July we noticed the first
fully-fledged young, which, during the months of July and August, kept in families. These flocks,
and also those consisting of old birds in spring, were usually to be seen feeding in the mountain-
meadows.” (Orn. Misc. ii. p. 199, pi. liv.)