M E R U L A G O U L D I , V*r.
GOULD’S CHESTNUT OUZEL.
Merula gouldi, Verr. N. Arch. Mas. vi., Bull. p. 34 (1870); David & Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 148,
pi. xxxix. (1877); Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 260 (1881).
M. castanea: rostro et pedibus flavis : pileo et collo undique grisescenti-fumosis, pileo vix saturatiore.
T h i s fine species of Ouzel differs from i f . castanea in its slightly larger size. I t is altogether of a
brighter and less vinous-chestnut colour, and thus both the grey of the head and neek and the chestnut
colour of the body are of a different tint.
The species was discovered by Abbe David in Western Szechuen and Moupin in N.W. China.
Here it was common enough and was generally observed in the mountain forests, descending in
winter to the lower valleys. At this time of year it frequented the neighbourhood .of houses to feed
on the berries, as well as the clearings in search of fruit and small worms, breaking up the latter in
the manner of our common European Song-'l'hrush. The song is good, and like that of our Blackbird,
but is somewhat harsher and less silvery in- tone (David & Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 148). The species
was also obtained at Ta-tsien-lu by the expedition of M. BonValot and Prince Henri d’Orleans
(Oustalet, N. Arch. Mus. (4) v. p. 144).
The late General Pijewalski found this Ouzel in the mountains of Kan-su, where it was also
met with by Berezowski (cf. Berez. & Bianchi, Aves Exped. Potan. Gansu, p. 100, 1891). Prjewalski
observes (Orn. Misc. ii. p. 198, 1877):—“ We met with this beautiful Thrush in the Kan-su
mountains, where it inhabits the wooded localities. Here it chooses the mountain-slopes covered
with larch trees for its habitat and nidification. I t is very cautious in its habits, although it never
gets disturbed by man. In spring its song is beautiful, particularly early in the morning and at
sunset, from the branches of trees. The young begin to fly about the end of June, and keep in
families in those woods where plenty of berries are found, and usually in the vicinity of mountain-
creeks. We did not notice the time of their autumnal migration from Kan-su, where they are rather
common, and which, I find, is their northern limit.”
Dr. Pleske, in his work on the results of Prjewalski’s expeditions, gives some interesting notes
on the plumage of the sexes of this bird and the nestlings. According to Pijewalski, during the
rearing of the young, the old birds utter a cry not unlike that of the Grey-hacked Shrike (Lanins
tephronotus). On the 25th of July a nestling was obtained which was not yet fully feathered, but
had already left the nest. At the end of July the old birds begin to moult and many of them show
already fresh feathers at that date. The species does not winter in Kan-su.
A du lt male. General colour above bright chestnut, slightly paler towards the lower back, rump,
and upper tail-coyerts, the longer coverts -being reddish-brown; wings and tail black; crown of
head dark slaty-brown, as well as the lores, cheeks, feathers below the eye, and ear-coverts, the dark
colour of the head not forming a cap but shading off into the smoky-brown of the hind-neck and
sides of neck; base of chin ashy-white; rest of throat and fore-neck smoky-brown; remainder of
under surface of body bright chestnut; vent white; thighs and under tail-coverts black, broadly
centred and tipped with white; under wing-coverts and axillaries bright chestnut; quills dusky brown
v o l . I I . s