14 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



Iris dark brown ; ImU brown, and yellowisli at base of lower mandible ; 

 feet dark brown. 



Total length 1050 inches, wing ooO, culmen -85, tarsus 1-25. 



The present form of Eing-Ouzel was first noticed and alluded to 

 by C. L. Brehm, under the name of Meriila alpestris {Isis, 1828, p. 

 1281), but no description was given of the bird. This was, however, 

 supplied by Brehm in 1831 (Handb. Vog. Deutchsl. p. 372), and 

 further supplemented by him in 1818 {Isis, 1848, p. 92) and in 1860 

 (/./. 0. 1860, p. 239). To Stejneger is due the credit of having, one 

 may say, rediscovered this Ring-Ouzel, and brought about its recog- 

 nition as distinct from the typical T. torquatus, {Proc. U.S. Nat. 

 Mus. 1886, p. 365), and subsequently other good ornithologists, such 

 as Seebohm, Count Salvador!, and Mr. Dresser have all written 

 interesting articles regarding the bird, fully admitting its claim to 

 separation from T. torquatus. 



Apparently the chief distinguishing feature between T. torquatus, 

 and T. t. alpestris, is to be found in the feathers of the underparts 

 below the white collar, which in T. t. alpestris, at all seasons, have 

 white or light-coloured margins, many of them also, particularly those 

 of the under tail-coverts, having white central spots, whereas in T. 

 torquatus the white margins to the feathers are only to be found in 

 autumn and winter, while the white median spots are entirely absent 

 at all seasons. 



Besides the above, other minor differential characters are notice- 

 able in the greater prevalence of white in the colouring of the upper 

 wing-coverts and the axillaries of T. t. alpestris, as also in the colour 

 of its bill as compared with that of T. torquatus and lastly, in the 

 respective notes of the two forms, that of T. t. alpestris being said 

 to be much shriller and more powerful than that of T. torqitatus, 

 although as regards the two latter points further and more conclusive 

 evidence is desirable. 



According to Seebohm (Ibis, 1888, p. 309), a third form, or 

 geographical race, of T. torquatus is recognisable, and occurs in the 

 Caucasus and Persia. In this form the white on the upper wing- 

 coverts and on the axillaries is much more pronounced than it is in 

 T. t. alpestris ; whilst on the underparts the white on the margins of 

 the feathers is less pronounced, and in the centre altogether absent. 

 For this form Seebohm proposed the name of Merula torquata 



