MEK U LA S C H L E G E L I (Sclater).
SCHLEGEL’S CHESTNUT-BREASTED OUZEL.
Turdus (Merula) fumidus, pt., S. Müller, Verh. Nat. Gesch. Nederl. Ind., Land- en Volkenk.
p. 201, note (1839-1844).
Turdus schlegeli, Sclater, Ibis, 1861, p. 280 ; Wallace, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 485; Sclater, Ibis, 1875,
p. 347.
Turdus javanicus, pt., Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. 255. no. 3705 (1869).
Merula jmanica, pt., Seebobm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 279 (1881).
Merula schlegeli, Büttik. Notes Leyden Mus. xv. p. 109 (1892); Seebohm, Ibis, 1893, p. 221;
Pinscb, Notes Leyden Mus. xx. p. 228 (1898).
M. similis M. fumida, sed pallidior: prsesertim gutture et prsepectore dilutioribus distinguenda: abdomine crissoque
castaneis, minime albis : subcaudalibus rbachidibus pallidis vix striatis.
T h is -is the representative of M. fumida in the Island of Timor, and the type specimen in the
Leyden Museum is still the only one known. I t was discovered by Salomon Müller in the interior
of Timor in the Penpaan Valley near the mountain of Micomaffo. As Dr. Finsch points out, the
altitude at which M. schlegeli lives must be considerable, as Müller remarks that he had never
experienced such cold before either in Timor or Java.
The species was considered by Müller to be identical with his Turdus fumidus from Java, and
more recently Seebohm considered the Ouzels of Timor and Java to be identical. T. schlegeli was,
however, specifically separated by Dr. Sclater in 1861, and both Dr. Biittikofer and Dr. Finsch, who
have had the opportunity of comparing the type of M. schlegeli with Javan examples of M. fumida,
pronounce the- Timor bird to be distinct.
Dr. Büttikofer writes:—“ This species is easily distinguished from M. javanica [i. e. M. fumida
of this work] by the paler colour, especially of the head, neck, throat, and chest, by the vent and
centre of the abdomen being chestnut instead of white, and by the absence of the white shaft-streaks
on the under tail-coverts.” Similar distinctive characters are given by Dr. Finsch, and it seems to me
probable that M. whiteheadi will ultimately turn out to be the nearest ally of M. schlegeli, rather
than M. fumida.
I am unable to give a detailed description of this species, as I have not had an opportunity of
examining the type specimen in the Leyden Museum. [R. B. S.]
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