78 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Family TURDID/E. Genus Merula. 



Sub-family TURDIN^. 



B L A C K-T HROATED OUZEL. 



Merula atrigularis {Temi?iinck). 

 (British : Very rare abnormal autumn migrant.) 

 Number of Broods unknown. Laying season unknown. 



Breeding area : Eastern Palaearctic region. The 

 Black-throated Ouzel appears to breed in the valleys 

 of the Yenesay and the Obb from at least lat. 63° 

 southwards, in the pine regions of Eastern Turkestan, 

 and probably on the mountains of the Baikal area. It 

 may also possibly breed at high elevations in the 

 Himalayas. The breeding area of this Ouzel is very 

 imperfectly defined. 



Breeding habits : Nothing is known of the breed- 

 ing habits of the Black-throated Ouzel. In the late 

 summer Mr. Seebohm met with a brood of these birds 

 and their parents on the margin of the pine forests in 

 Siberia, and remarked their preference for the vicinity 

 of villages on the Yenesay — rough pastures studded 

 with clusters of small trees. Severtzow, who states that 

 this bird breeds in Eastern Turkestan, found it frequent- 

 ing the cultivated areas, as well as the grass-clothed 

 steppes and salt plains. The pairing habits of this Ouzel, 

 its nest, and its habits generally during the season of 

 reproduction have never been described. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Black-throated Ouzel have been pro- 

 cured on the Altai mountains, and I do not see any 

 reason to doubt their authenticity, although it may be 

 remarked that no scientific naturalist has yet taken 

 them. They so closely resemble those of the Blackbird 



