-H a n h a r t imp
ME R U L A T EMP E ST I {Layard).
TAVIUNI OUZEL.
Turdus tempesti, E. L. Layard, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 420; Tristram, Ibis, 1879, p. 189, note..
Merula tempesti, E. L. Layard, Ibis, 1876, p. 392; Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 257
(1881); id. P. Z. S. 1890, pp. 666, 668; Wiglesw. Abhandl. k. Mus. Dresd. 1890-91, no. 6
p. 39 (1892).
M. n ig ra : rostro et pedibus flavis. Similis M. poliocephalce, sed gutture et prsepectore magis grisescentibus
distinguenda.
T h is Ouzel is only known from the island of Taviuni, in the F i j i group. I t is closely allied to
M. polioeephala from Norfolk Island, and is scarcely to be distinguished from that species. I t is, in
fact, so like the last-named bird that it can only be separated by its lighter ashy-grey throat and
chest, the paler ashy colour apparently extending lower over the fore-neck than in M. polioeephala.
The bill in M. tempesti seems to be constantly larger than in the latter species. So similar is
M. tempesti to its Norfolk Island representative that Mr. Seebohm actually referred one of the
specimens from Norfolk Island collected by Mr. Brenchley to M. tempesti in the 4 Catalogue of
Birds, believing that some mistake had been made in the registering of the specimen. Although,
after the custom of the British Museum at that time, the original label of Mr. Brenchley’s had been
destroyed, and another one tied on to the specimen, there is no reason to suppose that the locality
had been wrongly entered on the label. When Mr. Seebohm wrote, few specimens of M. polioeephala
were in this country; but the Museum now possesses a fine series, and the specimen obtained by
Mr. Brenchley is absolutely identical with others sent from Norfolk Island.
Mr. Tempest informed Mr. Layard that he found this Ouzel in the forest at the south end of
Taviuni, at Selia Levu, Yuna Point, scratching under the bushes for worms and insects. I t has the same
metallic chattering note as the European bird, but Mr. Tempest says that he never heard it sing.
A dult malt. General colour above black, including the wings and ta il; crown of head and
hind-neck brown; sides of face, throat, and chest light ashy-brown; remainder of under surface of
body black, including the under tail-coverts ; thighs brown; under wing-coverts and axillaries dark
brown: “ bill and feet rich orange; iris dark brown ” (E. L. Layard). Total length 7-6 inches,
culmen 0-95, wing 4T5, tail 2*75, tarsus T3.
Adult f emale. Similar to the male, but with the head and neck dark brown, not much lighter
than the back; sides of face, throat, and chest a little lighter brown, but not so pale as in the
male; remainder of under surface of body black, including the under tail-coverts: “ bill and feet
yellow; iris greenish-yellow ” (Liardet). Total length 7’8 inches, culmen 0'95, wing 4*2, tail 2-75,
tarsus 1*4.
Young. Similar to the adult female, but with rufous shaft-lines to the feathers of the upper
surface; under surface of body blackish, with rufous margins to the feathers.
The description of the male and the figure in the Plate are taken from the typical specimen in
the Seebohm Collection, and the female described and figured is in the Salvin-Godman Collection.
[R. B. S.]