MERULA. 109 



(1899); Sharpe in Seebohm' s Mon. Turdidce, ii. p. 147 (1901); id, 

 Hand-l iv. p. 126 (1903). 



The eggs of Tickell's Ouzel vary in shape from a blunt to an elon- 

 gated oval, while sometimes they are spheroidal. They vary in colour 

 from greyish white to pale green, streaked and mottled with rich 

 reddish brown and pale underlying purple. In some specimens the 

 markings are small freckles with a cap or zone at the larger end, in 

 others they are larger and dense, covering the greater part of the 

 ground-colour. They measure from "92 to 1*20 in length, and frum 

 •70 to -83 in breadth. 



1. Murree, N.W. Himalavas, 11th Hume Coll. 



June (C. H. T. Marshall). 



1. Murree, 5th June (C. H. T. M.). Crowley Bequest. 



7. Mussoorie, Himalayas (T. Hutton). Hume Coll. 



1. Mussoorie, 18th June. Hume Coll. 



Merula layardi, Seebohn. 

 (Plate VI. fig. 3.) 



Merula vitiensis (nee Layard), Seebohm, Cat. Birds B. M. v. p. 278 



(1881) ; Nehrk. Kat. Eiersamml. p. 38 (1899). 

 Merula lavardi, Seebohm, P. Z. S. 1890, p. 667 ; Sharpe in Seebohm 's Mon. 



Turdidce, ii. p. 135 (1901) ; id. Hand-l. iv. p. 126 (1903). 



Two pairs of the eggs of the Viti-Levu Ouzel, from the Crowley 

 Bequest, have a similar ground-colour, a dull and pale greenish blue, 

 but they differ a little in their markings, which in one pair are bold 

 and of a bright purple-brown, chiefly at the large end ; while in the 

 other they are duller in colour and take the shape of more numerous 

 spots and small blotches : these are evenly distributed over the 

 surface, but there is an additional thickening or cap at the larger 

 end. In size they range from 1*13 to 1*19 in length, and from "82 

 to *85 in breadth. 



2. Yiti Levu, Fiji Islands. Crowley Bequest. 

 2. Viti Levu. Crowley Bequest. 



Merula xanthopus (Forster). 



(Plate VI. fig. 2.) 



Merula xanthopus, Seebohm, Cat. Birds B. M. v. p. 276 (1881) ; Sharpe 

 in Seebohnis Mon. Turdidce, ii. p. 139 (1901) ; id. Hand-l. iv. p. 126 

 (1903). 



There is one egg of the New-Caledonian Ouzel in the Collection, 

 obtained by Mr. E. L. Layard. It has the ground-colour of a rather 

 bright greenish blue, closely mottled over with streaks and blotches 

 of dull chestnut. In shape it is a regular oval, measuring 1-20 by *89. 



1. Noumea, New Caledonia (E. L. Crowley Bequest. 



Layard: Tristram Coll.). 



