M E R U L A E U R Y Z O N A , Du Bus.
COLOMBIAN CHESTNUT OUZEL.
Merula euryzona, Du Bus, Esq. Om. pi. xxxiv. (1845); Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v.
p. 266 (1881).
Turdus fulviventris, S,cl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 273.
Turdus euryzonus, Scl. Cat. Amer. B. p. 2 (1862).
M. rostro et pedibus flavis: suprá saturate schistacea: pectore aurantiaco-castaneo: hypochondriis minimé nigro
maculatis: prsepectore cinerascente: gutture nigricante.
T h is species, which resembles some of the Old-World Ouzels, especially Merula protomomelcena, is
an inhabitant of Colombia and Ecuador. From the last-named species it differs chiefly in having
a less extent of black on the throat, which is followed by an ashy-grey fore-neck; otherwise the two
species are remarkably alike and certainly belong to the same section of the genus Merula, though
inhabiting such widely different areas.
The Colombian Chestnut Ouzel is a very rare bird in collections. The specimens in the
British Museum consist of an example from Bogotá, the type of Turdus fulviventris, another from
Pamplona obtained by Mr. Claude W. Wyatt, and specimens from Jima and San Lucas in Ecuador,
collected by the late Clarence Buckley. Mr. Wyatt writes (Ibis, 1871,- p. 320):—“ We only met
with this rare Thrush in one locality, in the dense forest on the summit of the mountain-chain
between the Magdalena and Ocaña. There, however, it was not an uncommon bird, but, owing
to the density of the vegetation, it was difficult to obtain specimens. We often saw it sitting on the
bough of some tree within a few yards of u s ; but there was no chance of finding it if we shot it.
Locality Alto. Altitude 5000-6000 feet.”
Adult. General colour above dark slaty-grey, with a slight olive tinge; wing-coverts like the
back, the bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and quills blackish, externally dark slaty-grey; tail black;
crown of head and nape black, forming a cap; sides of face also black as well as the throat, the
latter slightly mottled with ashy bases to the feathers; lower throat and fore-neck dark ashy-grey,
tinged with olive; remainder of under surface of body deep chestnut; the thighs, lower flanks, and
under tail-coverts dark ashy, the former tinged with olive, the coverts faintly edged with rufous and
having narrow shaft-lines of buff; under wing-coverts and axillaries deep chestnut; quills dusky
below, ashy along the inner webs. Total length 9’5 inches, culmen 1*05, wing 3*35, tail 3'8,
tarsus 1*35.
The description has been taken from a Bogota specimen in the Sclater Collection (type of
T. fulviventris). The specimen figured is from Jima in Ecuador, in the Salvin-Godman Collection.
[R. B. S.]
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