ME R U L A H O R T U L O R UM {Sclafer).
SWINHOE’S OUZEL.
Turdus sp., Swinhoe, Ibis, 1861, p. 37.
Turdus kortulorum, Sclater,, Ibis, 1863, p. 196 ; Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1871, p, 367 ; David & Oust.
Ois. Chine, p. 151 (1877) ; Seebohm, P. Z. S. 1879, p. 805 ; Stejneger, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. xiv.
p. 495 (1891).
Turdus pelios (nec Bp.), Cab. J. f. O. 1870, p. 238; Tacz. Bull. Soc. Zool. France, i. p. 149
(1876) ; David & Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 151 (1877) ; Tacz. Faune Ora. Sibér. Orient, i. p. 311
(1891).
Turdus campielli, Swinhoe, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (4) xii. p. 374 (1873).
Turdus chrysopleurus, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1874, p. 444, pi. xiv.
Turdus dissimilis (nec Blyth), Seebohm, Str. F. viii. p. 437 (1879, pt.). ■ •
Merula kortulorum, Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v, p. 267 (1881) ; La Touche, Ibis, 1887,
p. 216,1892, p. 412 ; Styan, Ibis, 1891, p. 332,1894, p. 335.
M. rostro et pedibus flavis : axillaribus et subalaribus pallidè aurantiacis, corporis lateribus concoloribus : pileo
grisescenti- vel olivaceo-hrunneo, minimè nigro : gutture albo vel fulvescente, nigro striato : praepectore
pallidè ciueraceo concolore (S') vel fusco-nigro striato ( ? ) : pectore toto et abdomine purè albis.
T h is pretty Ouzel was for a long time considered to be the true Turdus pelios of Bonaparte,
but there can be no doubt that the description of the latter species indicates the African
Thrush which is now universally recognized by that name. In Dr. Taczanowski’s ‘ Faune
Ornithologique de la Siberie Orientale,’ a note by Mr. Godlewski informs us that Merula kortulorum
is very rare in the Ussuri country and on the coast of the Sea of Japan, where it arrives in
the first half of May and settles itself in the forests. I t is very wary and difficult to obtain. The
note of the male surpasses that of all the other Thrushes of Eastern Siberia ; it is an indefatigable
songster and has a loud voice. It breeds in Ussuri-land, but Godlewski did not succeed in
finding its nest.
The species wa9 also met with by Mr. Janskowski on the island of Askold, and more recently
by Mr. Kalinowski at Sidemi. The Seebohm Collection contains a fine series from the mouth
of the Amoor, procured by the brothers Doerries in April and May, as well as three specimens
obtained by Dybowski in Ussuri-land, one being from the Suiffun district. Although Mr. Seebohm
had referred a specimen from the Perry expedition to Japan to this species (P. Z. S. 1879, p. 805),
Dr. Stejneger (Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. xiv. p. 496, 1891) came to the conclusion that this specimen did
not really come from Japan. He mentions, however, an authentic specimen from the province of
Kaga, in Hondo, sent to him by Prof. Ijima, so that the species certainly occurs in the Archipelago.
Although this species was only noticed for the first time in China by Swinhoe in 1861, an
undescribed specimen had been for many years in the British Museum, to which it had been
presented by that veteran naturalist Mr. John Reeves. Swinhoe met with it first at Macao,
in the Camoens Gardens, where, -he- says, “ it was nesting.’* • -This was apparently a mistake,
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