ME R U L A W H I T E H E A D I , SeeboJm.
WHITEHEAD’S CHESTNUT-BREASTED OUZEL.
Metula whiteheadi, Seebohm, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, v. p. xxv (1893); id. Ibis, 1898, pp. 221r
257 ; Finsch, Notes Leyden Mus. xx. p. 230 (1898).
M. rostro flavo: pedibus flavis : similis M. fumidce, sed pallidior et grisescentior, et pileo undique, gutture et
praepeetore cinerascenti-brunneis distinguenda.
T h is species very mu ch resembles M. funvida, b u t is r a th e r grey er, a n d is d istin g u ish ed by its ashy-
b row n h e a d an d face. T h is a shy colour o verspreads th e th ro a t an d ch e st an d u p p e r b re a st. I n th e
m a le th e w h ite shaft-lines to th e u n d e r ta il-coverts a re very n arrow, b u t th ey a re b ro ad e r in
th e female. T h e q u ills an d ta il a re b la ck e r in M. whiteheadi th a n in M. fumida.
I t is as yet known only from Mount Tosari in Eastern Java, where it was discovered by the late
Mr. John Whitehead, after whom it was named by Mr. Seebohm. The typical specimens are in the
Seebohm Collection in the British Museum.
Adult male. General colour above dark slaty-grey, the wing-coverts like the back; quills and
tail-feathers blackish, contrasting with the back, and edged with dark slaty-grey; crown of head,
sides of face, hind-neck and sides of neck, and throat dark ashy grey, becoming gradually dusky slaty-
brown on the lower throat, fore-neck, and breast; abdomen chestnut; a small patch on the lower
abdomen white; sides of body, thighs, and under tail-coverts dark slaty-brown, the latter with
narrow whitish shaft-lines ; under wing-coverts and axillaries dark slate-colour like the chest; quills
dusky brown below, more ashy on the inner webs : “ bill, feet, and eyelids dull king’s yellow ; iris
black” («7. Whitehead). Total length 9’5 inches, culmen 0'9, wing 4*75, tail 3'6, tarsus 1*35.
Adult female. Similar to the male, but slightly duller in colour, and with broader longitudinal
centres to the under tail-coverts: “ bill, feet, and eyelids as in the male” («7. Whitehead). Total
length 9 inches, culmen 0-9, wing 4-75, tail 3’6, tarsus 1’35.
The descriptions have been taken from the typical examples in the Seebohm Collection, and
the figures in the Plate represent an adult male and female. [B,. B. S.]