3. MERtLA. 277 



Birds obtained duriwj Capt. CouKs voyages, unde Licht. Forster's 

 Descr. Aniiii. It. Mar. Austr. p. 26G ( 1844) ; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. 

 p. 255. no. 3700 (18(39) ; Layard, Ibis, 1878, p. 253 ; Tristram, 

 Ibis, 1879, p. 188. 

 Merula xanthopus (^Licht.), E. P. Ramsay, P. L. Soc. K. S. Wales, 

 iii. p. 337 (1879). 



In the adult male the general colour of the upper parts, including 

 the lores and ear-coverts, is an almost uniform dark brown, be- 

 coming dull black on the head, wings, and tail ; no trace of eye- 

 stripe. Undcrparts dark brown, paler and greyer on the chin, 

 throat, and thighs. Eill yellow. Wing with the third, fourth, and 

 fifth primaries nearly equal and longest, second primary interme- 

 diate in length between the fifth and sixth, bastard primary 0-9 to 

 0-7 inch. Legs, feet, and claws pale yellow. Length of wing 4-55 

 to 4-3 inches, tail 3-45 to 3-;!, culmen 1-1 to 0-9, tarsus 1-3G to 1-3. 



The female differs from the male in having a shade of olive on 

 the colour of the back, and in having the dark brown of the under- 

 parts replaced by dark vinous brown. Younr/ in first plumarje are 

 unknown ; but an immature male shows traces of first plumage in 

 the chestnut ti])s to some of the wing-coverts : in other respects the 

 plumage very closely resembles that of the adult female. 



The New-Caledonian Ouzel is only known from the island whose 

 name it bears. 



a, b. (S ad. sk. Xew Caledonia. J. MacgiUivray, Esq. [C.]. 



50. Merula vinitincta. 



Merula vinitincta, Gould, P. Z. S. 1855, p. lf:o ; B. P. Bamsai/, 



P. L. Soc. N. S. Wales, iii. p. 337 (1879). 

 Turdus vinotinctus {Gould), Sclater, liis, 18G1, p. 281. 

 Tardus vinitinctus (Gould), Gray, Haml-l. B. i. p. 255. no. 3711 



(1869). 

 Turdus xanthopus, Licht. apud Tristram, Ibis, 1879, p. 188 (parti m). 



General colour of the upper parts russet-brown, .slightlv more 

 russet on the upper taU-coverts ; head, nape, lores, and ear-coverts 

 dark brown, well defined from the back : no trace of eye-stripe ; 

 wings and tail brown ; the outside web of the wing-coverts, inner- 

 most secondaries, and quills russet-brown. Underjiarts dark vinous 



Turdus ulietensis, Gaicl. Si/st. Kaf. i. p. 815 (1788, e.r Lath.); Lath. Iiid. 



Orn. i. p. :?35 (17!)(l); Grai/, Gen. B. i. p. 21'.t (l.>^47); id. B. Troj). 



M. p. U) (18.")!)); kl. Haml-l. B. i. p. 255. no. 3713 (18(i9); Tristram, 



Iln-S 1879, p. 187. 

 Turdus badius, Forst. MS. Dravings (in the Brit. Mas.) of Animals ob- 



toiiird during Cu-pt. Cook's voyages, unde Licht. Forsters Bescr. Anim. 



It. Mar. Austr. p. 239 (1844). 

 Merula ulietensis {Gmel.), E. I'. liamsay, P. L. Soc. X. S. Wales, iii. p 337 



(1879). 



The Raiateian Ouzel is said to liave been obtained in the i^land of Eaiatea, 

 or L'lietea, one of tlic So^-iety Islands. It is not known that a specimen of this 

 species exists in any nmseuni or private collection. The figure is copied from 

 Forster's drawing iu the British Museum. 



