J . G K e u lcm a n s l i t h . HajihapL imp.
MER U LA PO L IO C E PH A L A [Lath).
JTOBEOLK-ISLAND OUZEL.
Ash-headed Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn., Suppl. p. 373 (1801).
Turduspoliocephalus, Lath. Ind. Orn., Suppl. p. xliv (1801).
Merula nest or, Gould, P. Z. S. 1835, p. 186.
Geodtchla poliocephalus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 268 (1850).
Merula poliocephalus, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. iii. p. 337 (1879).
Merula poliocephala, Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 258 (1881); North, Nests and Eggs
Austri Birds, p. 411 (1889).
M. rostro et pedibus flavis : notaeo nigro : gastraeo brunnescenti-nigro : subcaudalibus nigris vel late albo medialiter
striatis : capite toto et collo cum gutture toto et praepectore cinerascenti-brunneis.
I n the British Museum there is a large series of specimens of this Ouzel from Norfolk Island, and,
as far as I can see, only one species is represented. Most of the birds have very distinct white
streaks on the under tail-coverts, but there are some which have the latter entirely black. I t would
almost seem as if this character varied, perhaps with age, and in that case some of the species now
separated from M. poliocephala may have to be re-united to it. I t is certain that in the various
species of the present group the specific characters are not of great worth, and the fact that many
of Mr. Layard’s specimens have been preserved in alcohol renders comparison more difficult, as the
colours have faded.
Mr. North, in his work on the eggs of Australian birds, says:—“ The Norfolk-Island
Ouzel breeds from August until December, constructing a nest similar to other members of the
genus Merula, an open cup-shaped structure, and placed in banks, the tops of stumps or
branches of trees, at a height varying from twelve to sixteen feet from the ground. The
eggs vary from two to four in number for a sitting. Dr. Metcalfe has forwarded three specimens
taken from different nests: one of them is oval in form, having a pale greenish-grey groundcolour,
with reddish-chestnut markings, freckles, and dots of light purple, appearing as if beneath
the surface of the shell: length 1*18 X 0-83 in c h ; another specimen (B) inclines to an
elongate oval in form, and has a light isabelline ground-colour, with irregular-shaped chestnut
markings, and nearly obsolete freckles and dots of light purple: length 1*21 X 0*82 inch;
(C) is an elongate oval of a pale green ground-colour, almost obscured by numerous markings
of chestnut-brown, thickly and uniformly dispersed over the surface of the shell: length 1*19
X 0*8 inch.”
Adult male. General colour above and below black, including the wings and ta il; under tail-
coverts black ; under wing-coverts smoky-black; crown of head and neck all round, sides of face,
throat, and fore-neck light ashy-brown, the head slightly darker and forming a faint cap: “ bill and
feet orange; iris drab ” [E. L. Layard). Total length 8’4 inches, culmen 0-9, wing 4-6, tail 3*3,
tarsus 1*2.