J.G.Keulemans Tith.
MERULA MANDAKINA
H a n h a r t imp.
M E R U L A M A N D A R I N A , Bp.
CHINESE OUZEL.
Tardus sinensis, Cuv. MSS. ; Less. Traité, p. 408 (1831).
Turdus mandarinus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 275 (1850).- '■
Merula mandarina, Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E.I. Co. i. p. 196 (1854) ; Seebohm, Cat.
Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 238 (1881).
Merula sinensis, Swinh. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 367 ; Kidgw. Proo. U.S. Nat. Mus. iv. p. 322 (1882).
M. pedibus fuscescenti-brunneis vel nigricantibus, minime flavis : foeminâ vix a mari distinguendâ : notæo
gastræoque ferè concoloribus, fuliginoso-nigris.
T h e Chinese Ouzel is said by Swinhoe to range from Hainan to Shanghai and westwards to Szechuen
(P. Z. S. 1871, p. 867), and the series of specimens in the British Museum ranges from Hongkong
to Ningpo. There is also an example in the Seebohm Collection said to be from Tientsin, but
without any authoritative indication of the collector; and as this locality is far to the north of
the range assigned to the species by Swinhoe and Messrs. David and Oustalet, the specimen has been
probably incorrectly labelled. Swinhoe expressly says that he did not mèet with the species
at Pekin (P. Z. S, 1863, p . 281).
In Hainan Swinhoe found the species extremely shy and difficult to approach, and he did
not procure a specimen. I t was seen, but rarely, near Kiungchow city and about the villages
of Notth-west Hainan, and he also met with it occasionally in the centre of the island (Ibis, 1870,
p. 248).
Sir John Murray procured a specimen at Hongkong during the voyage of H.M.S. ‘ Challenger,’
and Swinhoe says that it is a common resident species throughout Southern China from Canton
to Shanghai (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 281). Mr. De La Touche records it as an abundant resident about
Swatow and throughout the Foochow district (Ibis, 1887, p. 216 ; ¡1892, p. 412). Mr. F. W. Styan
also says that it is resident throughout the Lower Yangtze Basin (Ibis, 1891, p. 319).
Several specimens obtained by Swinhoe at Ningpo are in the Seebohm Collection.
Mr. De La Touche says that this Ouzel is a favourite cage-bird with the Chinese, and Swinhoe
speaks of its sweet song as enlivening the gardens. According to the latter observer, it builds
chiefly on the boughs of the banyan [Ficus nitida), and makes a nest scarcely distinguishable
in aspect from that of the European Blackbird. The Cantonese name for the species is “ Woo-yay ”
(Ibis, 1861, p. 38).
Abbé David says that this Blackbird is sedentary in the southern provinces of China, but he
never met with it in the basin of the Hoangho. I t frequents by preference the middle of the
bamboos cultivated in the neighbourhood of habitations, in the bushes scattered about over the
centre of the plain, as well as on the hills, but it never occurs on the high mountains. I t has
a more beautiful and more varied song than the Blackbird of Europe, but has the same habits as the
latter bird (David & Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 148).
Adult male. General colour above and below sooty-black, the wings and tail even deepër black ;
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