J.&Kewletnanslith ^ : \ Hanhar'l imp
MERULA- FUM ID A . '
MERULA F UM ID A (S. Müll.).
MÜLLEE’S CHESTNUT-BEEASTED OUZEL.
Turdus (Merula) fumidus, S. Müll. Verh. Nat. Gesch. Nederl. Ind.. Land- en Yolkenk. p. 201
(1839-44).
Turdus hypopyrrhus, Hartl. Verz. Brem. Samml. 1844, p. 43; Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 219 (1847);
Cab. Mus. Hein. Th. i. p. 3, (1850); Salvad. TJcc. Bom. p. 258 (1874).
Turdus fumidus, Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 219 (1847); Bp. Consp. i. p. 274 (1850); Finsch, J. f. O.
1863, p. 39.
Turdus javanicus, pt. (nec Horsf.), Blyth, J. A. S. Beng. xvi. p. 143 (1847); Sclater, Ibis, 1861,
p. 280; Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. 255. no. 3705 (1869).
Turdus vulcanus, Pelz. Reis. Novara, Vögel, p. 70 (1865, ex Temm. MSS.).
Turdus javanicus (nec Horsf.), Salvad. Ucc. Born. p. 255. no. 3705 (1874); Sclater, Ibis, 1875,
p. 344, pi. vii.
Merula javanica,pt. (nec Horsf.), Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus.v. p. 279 (1881); id. Ibis, 1893,
p. 219 ; Hartert, Nov. Zool. iii. p. 538 (1896).
Merula fumida, Finsch, Notes Leyden Mus. xx. p. 229 (1898).
M. rostro flavo: pedibus flavis : notaeo fumoso-brunneo, pileo concolore vix saturatiore: facie laterali, gutture et
prsepectore quoque fumoso-brunneis: pectore et abdomine castaneis: plagä crissali albä : subcaudalibus
fumoso-brunneis, latfe albo medialiter striatis.
T h is species of Chestnut-breasted Ouzel has been, in a most unaccountable way, confounded with
Merula javanica, notwithstanding that the types of the latter have been in the British Museum and
have been examined by many ornithologists.
I t seems to be entirely confined to West Java, and I believe that its reputed occurrence in
Sumatra and Borneo, as recorded by Bonaparte, is in both instances erroneous. In the British
Museum is a specimen of M. hypopyrrha, purchased of Verreaux, and said to be from Borneo, which
is undoubtedly of Javan preparation, and is identical with a specimen from Java in the Tweeddale
Collection. The place of M. fumida is taken in Borneo by M. seebohmi, both being inhabitants of
very high mountains.
According to Dr. Finsch, the type of M. fumida was procured by Dr. Solomon Müller on
Mount Gede, in Western Java, in 1826 or 1827, at an altitude of 8000 feet. The Tring Museum,
so Mr. Hartert informs me, has received four specimens from Mr. Prittwitz, obtained on the same
mountain at the same elevation. Dr. A. R. Wallace also met with-the species at 9500 feet in West
Java, “ on the very summit of Mount Pangerango,” a volcanic cone 10,000 feet high. Here also an
example was procured by Zelebor during the voyage of the ‘ Novara.’ I t also occurs in East Java,
as Mr. Doherty has obtained specimens on Mount Aijano at 8000 and 8300 feet. This mountain
is an enormous old volcano in the eastern part of Java, south of Surabaya (c f Hartert, I. <?.).
Mr. Hartert informs me that the Arjano birds are of the same species as those from Gede and are not
M. whiteheadi.