MERULA. 131 



the whole head, neck, and breast deep glossy black, except the tips 

 of the median coverts, the outer webs of the greater coverts and 

 tertiaries, and the margins of the outer webs of the later secon- 

 daries, which are silvery ashy grey with a tinge of vinaceous ; 

 lower plumage from the breast downwards, the axillaries, and 

 under wing-coverts dull black, each feather narrowly margined 

 with whitish. 



Fig. 37.— Head of M. boulboul. 



Female. Brownish ashy throughout with an olivaceous tinge, the 

 marks on the wings, which are similar to those of the male in 

 shape and disposition, being pale rufous. 



In the male the legs and feet are brownish in front, yellow 

 behind ; bill coral-red, tip black ; iris brown ; edges of eyelids 

 orange-yellow {Hume Coll.) : in the female the iris is hazel-red ; 

 bill orange, horny at tip ; legs burnt sienna (Coclcbum). 



Length about 11*5 ; tail 4-5 ; wing 5'7 ; tarsus l - 3 ; bill from 

 gape 1*25. 



Distribution. A resident on the Himalayas from their bases up 

 to 8000 feet, the range varying according to season. This Ouzel 

 occurs from Murree to Sikhim ; it has also been obtained in the 

 Bhutan Doars, the Khasi hills, Cachar, and Manipur. 



Habits, Sfc. This Ouzel builds its nest sometimes on the ground 

 in the hollow of a massive root or fallen trunk, and some- 

 times, more frequently perhaps, on a ledge of rock or on the 

 extremity of a thick branch, where it has been cut or broken off. 

 The nest is constructed of moss and leaves, and little or no mud is 

 used in the structure. The breeding-season lasts from April to 

 August. The eggs, four in number, are dingy green thickly marked 

 with reddish brown, and measure about 1*2 by "87. 



677. Merula atrigularis. The Black-throated Ouzel. 



Turdus atrogularis, Temm. Man. cVOrn. ed. 2, i,p. 169, pi. (1820) ; Blyth, 

 Cat. p. 161 ; Horsf. 8f M. Cat. \, p. 195 ; Hume, Cat. no. 365. 



Planesticus atrogularis (Temm.), Jerd. B. I. i, p. 529; Stoliczka, 

 J. A. S. B. xxxvii, pt. ii, p. 35 ; Hume 8f Henders. Lah. to York. 

 p. 192 ; Scully, 8. F. iv, p. 140, viii, p. 286. 



Cichloides atrogularis (Temm.), Hume, S. F. i, p. 179. 



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