J.G.Keulemans Kfcli. I HanHarb imp.
M E R U L A VI NITINCT A .
M E R U L A V IN IT IN C T A , Gould.
LORD HOWE ISLAND OUZEL.
M e ru la v in itin e ta , Gould, P. Z. S. 1855, 1 165; id. Handb. B. Austr. ii. p. 529 (1865);
Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. iii. p. 337 (1879) ; Seebohm, Cat. Birds Bnt. Mus. v.
p. 277 (1881); Etheridge, Rep. Lord Howe Isl. 1889, p. 9 ; North, Nests & Eggs Anstr. B.
p. 411 (1889).
T u rd u s mn itin c tu s, Solater, Ibis, 1861, p. 281; Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. 255. no. 3711 (1869).
T u rd u s xan th o p u s, pt. (nec Forst.), Tnst-r. Ibis, 1879, p. 188.
M. rostro flavo: pedibus flayis vel flayicanti-hrunneis : similis M. xmthopodi, sed minor et pallidior: noteo
paullulum olivascentiore: gastrseo vividiore vinaceo-castaneo.
T h e Ouzel from Lord Howe Island is certainly very similar to M . xan th o p u s of New Caledonia, but
it is decidedly a smaller bird and paler in colour, the vinous tint of the under surface being likewise
somewhat different. _ . .
The following note is given by Mr. Robert Etheridge in his memoir on Lord Howe Island and its
F a u n a “ M . v in itm c ta , a very active and pleasing bird, represents the Thrushes. I t is locally known
as th e ‘Doctor’Bird and is peculiar to the island. I t frequents the more secluded hill-sides, especially
at the north end of the island, although it was found in the low ground bordering the shore, on the east
side, but not to the same extent. We also observed it high upon the flanks of Mount Ledgbird.
Mr. R. D. Fitzgerald states that the bird possesses the same leaf-tossing habits as the European
Blackbird. The nest is composed of palm-tree fibre, and is long and cylindrical, the base solid and
filled up.” _ .
Mr. A. J. North describes the nest and eggs as follows:—“ A nest of this species taken during
the month of October, 1889, is elliptical in form, with a small cup-shaped depression in the top, and
is composed throughout of strips of palm leaves and fibre of. one of the species of K e n tia peculiar to
the Island, together with skeletons of leaves, but without any special lining : it measures exteriorly
seven inches in diameter by five inches in depth; internally, three inches in depth by two inches and
a half across. Mr. Icely states that the nest was built in the branches of a shrub not far from
the ground. The eggs are two in number for a sitting, inclining to elongated ovals in form,
slightly pointed at the thinner end, of a pale greenish-grey ground-colour, with freckles, dots, and
longitudinal markings of reddish-brown dispersed over the entire surface of the shell, in some
places a few nearly obsolete blotches of purplish-grey appear. Length (A) 1-15X 0-77 inch;
(B) 1-12 x 0-77 inch.”
A d u l t male. General colour above chocolate-brown, with a faint olive tinge, rather pure rufous
on the lower rump and upper tail-coverts; the wing-coverts like the back; quills sepia-brown,
externally paler brown, the inner secondaries being chocolate-brown on their outer webs; tail-
feathers sepia-brown; crown of head and nape dusky brown, forming a very indistinct cap in
contrast to the back; lores, sides of face, and ear-coverts also dusky brown, the latter with faintly
indicated paler shaft-lines ; throat dusky brown, shading off into the dull vinous-brown colour of the
rest of the underparts; thighs ashy, with a slight vinous tinge ; under wing-coverts and axillanes
x 2