In a paper on birds’ nesting in the Tons Valley, Mr. B. B. Osmaston (J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc.
xi. p. 66, 1897) observesf-M* No account of the nidification of this Ouzel seems on record, and all
that we know of the eggs is from Hume’s description of two specimens brought from Native Sikhim
in June. This fine Ouzel is fairly common in the Karshu oak-zone from 8000 to 10,000 feet,
where its fine mellow-noted song may be heard daily in the spring. I found two nests near Deoban
at about 9000 feet elevation on May 23rd and 24th. The first, containing four fresh eggs, was
placed in a dense bushy ‘ Karshu ’ oak-tree about 10 feet from the ground, and the second, with
three slightly set eggs, was on the ground at the root of an old stump in oak-forest. The nests were
massive structures, made of moss and lined with fine grass, not unlike those of the Mistle-Thrush.
The eggs were very pale blue, mottled all over with reddish-brown, and with some inconspicuous pale
grey markings as well. They measured as follows
in. in.
“ Largest egg .............................. . 1*20 x 0'85
Smallest egg ...................................... I ,1 4 x 0 ,84
Average of five eggs ........................ 1T6 X 0'85 w
The Tons River where Mr. Osmaston collected is said by him to be “ a large branch of the
river Jumna, rising in the snowy ranges of the Himalaya, and winding its way southward through
Tehri-Garhwal and Jannsar, traversing a forest-clad country from the zone of the juniper and the
birch at 13,000 feet to that of the long-leafed pine at 3000 feet.”
Dr. Scully writes from N e p a l “ I found this Ouzel common in the Sheopuri Forest in
February. I t was not social like M. boulboul, being always found singly or in pairs. I t frequented
the moss-covered branches of the trees, or flew up from a bush to the nearest tree on being alarmed.
I t is rather a noisy bird, and its note in winter is harsh, something like that of Jf. atngularis
when alarmed, but lower and more full ” (Str. F. viii. p. 285). In Upper Sikhim Dr. W. T. Blanford
says that it appears to haunt the banks of streams, and he found it common in the Rhododendron
scrub on the skirts of forest in the Chola Range from 11,000 to 13,000 feet (J . A. S. Beng. xli.
pt. 2, p . 49,1872).
The following notes on the breeding of the species appear in Mr. Oates’s edition of Hume’s
‘ Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds,’ ii. p. 92 (1890):—
“ Colonel G. F. L. Marshall informs us that f near Naini Tal this Ouzel is only found on the
top of Cheena 8000 feet above the sea, and is rather an early breeder. I found the young just
fledged in the beginning of June, but was too late for eggs. Neither of the parent birds that were
with the young ones were in the cas&mm-plumage, both had the neck distinctly ringed.’
“ Two eggs of this species which, together with one of the parent birds, were brought from
Native Sikhim about the end of June, are regular ovals, a little compressed towards the small end,
and slightly glossy; the ground-colour is greyish-white, and the eggs are spotted and speckled all
over, more densely towards the broad end, with reddish-brown and brownish-red, and a number of
underlying markings of purplish-grey; they measure 1*23 by 0-87 and 1*22 by 0’85.”
Adult male in breeding-plumage. General colour above glossy black, including the wings and
ta il; crown of head and sides of face black, separated from the back by a broad white collar, which
extends round the hind-neck and over the upper mantle; chin blackish; throat and sides of neck
white, joining the white collar of the hind-neck; remainder of under surface of body black from the
fore-neck downwards, and including the under wing-coverts and quill-lining; under tail-coverts black,
with a white shaft-stripe. Total length 10v5 inches, culmen 1*0, wing 5*7, tail 4-0, tarsus T 35..
Adult female in breeding-plumage. General colour above reddish-brown; the cap also brown,
hoary on the forehead; wings and tail brown; sides of face ashy-brown; throat, sides of neck, and
hind-neck ashy-white, so that the collar round the latter is not so distinct as in the male; remainder
of under surface of body rufous-brown, the fore-neck and chest being more decidedly rufous;
axillaries and under wing-coverts rufous-brown; under tail-coverts brown, with a broad mesial streak
of white. Total length 9 inches, culmen 1*05, wing 5*2, tail 3*35, tarsus 1*3.
Young male. Black, with black wings and tail; the whole of the plumage obscured by rufous
edges to the feathers, which have also pale shaft-lines; lores rufous and cheeks rufous-buff, as also
the throat and fore-neck, with a broad malar line of black on each side of the throat; under surface
of body brownish-black, the centre of the body reddish-buff with blackish bases and sub-terminal bars
to the feathers. There is no sign of a white collar on the hind-neck, but a light patch of ochreous-
biiff appears on the fore-neck.
The male described is from Bussahir, in the Hume Collection; that figured in the Plate is from
“ Dhakerry,” in the Seebohm Collection. This specimen was obtained by the late Andrew Anderson;
but where this locality is, I have not been, able to discover. The female described and figured is one
from Darjiling, in the Seebohm Collection. [R. B. S.]
v o l . n . E