J. G. Keule mans lith.
M EM JL A :SAM.0 Ei»SrIS.
Hanharb imp
MERULA SAMOENS IS , Tristram.
SAMOAN BLACK OUZEL.
Turdus vanikorensis (nec Quoy & Gaimard), Peale, U.S. Expl. Exped., Birds, p. 95 (1848).
Merula vanikorensis (nec Quoy & Gaimard), Cassin, U.S. Expl. Exped., Orn. p. 158 (1858);
Einsch & Hartl. Faun. Centralpolyn. p. 97 (1867).
Turdus (Merula) vanicorensis (nec Quoy & Gaimard), Gray, B. Trop. Isl. Pacific Ocean, p. 16
’ (1859, pt.).
Turdus vanicorensis (nec Quoy & Gaimard), Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. 255. no. 3710 (1869, pt.).
Turdus samoensis, Tristram, Ibis, 1879, p. 188.
Merula samoensis, Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 242 (1881); Wiglesw. Aves Polyn.
(Abhandl. k. Mus. Dresden, 1890-91, no. 6), p. 39 (1892).
M. minor: ala 3V,7’5-4*1 p o ll.: rostro e t pedibus flavis : nigricans, fremina brunnescentiore: gutture haud fusco
striato.
Th is small species appears to be confined to the Samoan or Navigators’ Islands, where it was obtained
by Peale at Alua, in the interior of the island of Upolu. He states, that it inhabits the shady and
retired parts of the forests of the Samoan Islands, and is said to sing with a powerful and sweet
voice.
The Rev. S. J . Whitmee states that the native name in Upolu for this Ouzel is “ Tutumalili.” He
gives the following note on the species :—“ Common in the bush. There is no living object in Samoa
which gives me so much of home feeling as this bird. I t flies low before one for short distances,
with the peculiar Blackbird note, exactly as its congener does along the English hedgerows. The
only thing lacking is the English Blackbird’s song. Its nest is very similar to that of the English
Blackbird, except that it is rather smaller, to suit the smaller size of the b ird ; and, unless my memory
fails me since my birds’-nesting days, the eggs of the two might almost be interchanged without the
error being detected, except that the Samoan egg is perhaps the smaller of the two. The figure of
the egg in Finsch and Hartlaub’s work is very incorrect.” (Ibis, 1875, p. 439.)
Canon Tristram very properly separated the Samoan Ouzel under a distinct name, for it had
hitherto been identified with the Merula vanicorensis of Quoy and Gaimard from Vanikoro, and it is
quite unlikely that the Ouzels from these two localities would be identical.
Eggs collected by Mr. Whitmee are of two types, and vary considerably in size. In one form
the ground-colour is light bluish-green, thickly spotted and flecked with pale reddish-brown and with
faint greyish-brown underlying spots. In the other type the ground-colour is of a stone-colour or
light bluish, against which the pale rufous spots and flecks are more in contrast, and show up rather
more plainly than in the bluish-green type. Axis 1*1-1*3 inch, diam. 0*8-0*9.
Adult male. Sooty-black above and below, a little duller on the under surface: <c bill orange;
feet brownish-orange; iris dark brown ” (E. L. Layard). Total length 7-5 inches, culmen 0-8
wing 4*2, tail 2‘8, tarsus 1*3.