NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF UFFEli ASSAM. 261 



182. Copsychus saularis saularis (L.) [663]. — The Magpie Eobin. 

 A familiar resident in the vicinity of habitations and cultivation. 



183. Kittacincla macrourus macrourus (Gm.) [664]. — The Shama. 



Cittocincla macrura, Gates, F. B. 1., Vol. ii, p. 118. 



Somewhat sparingly distributed in the plains; more plentiful at the base 

 of the hiUs; partial to dense secondary growth; nullahs in forest, Eun- 

 gagora ; two or three occasions ; Margherita, November ; Denpai, January ; 

 North Lakhimpur, July ; Dejoo, November. March; Gauhati, Lower Assam 

 12-2-11, c? c?. 



It utters some melodious notes resembling the syllables "da" " di " "di" 

 "di," repeated several times and shuns observation. 



184. Turdus albocinctus Royle. [672]. — The White-collard Ouzel. 



Merula albocincta, Gates, F. B. I., Vol. ii, p. 127. 



Dejoo, North Lakhimpur (base of hills), 15-3-08, $ , single record. 



Distribution as given by Gates : Himalayas, Eastern Kashmir to Sikkim. 

 Iris bright brown ; orbital skin yellow ochreous ; bill dull yellow : tarsus 

 dirty yellow. 



185. Turdus castanea castanea (Gould.) [673]. — The Grey-headed Ouzel. 



Merula castanea, Gate?, F. B. I., Vol. ii., p. 128. 



Dejoo, North Lakhimpur (base of hills, 4-3-05, S , single record ; this 

 bird had been in the vicinity for three weeks. 



Distribution as given by Gates : Murree to Sikkim. " Griffith appears to 

 have obtained it in Assam." Iris hazel brown ; bill dusky yellow ; orbital 

 ring yellow; tarsus dark yellow horny; claws horny. 



186. Turdus ruficollis ruficollis, Pall. [675]. — The Red-throated Ouzel. 



Merula ru/icollis, Oatea, F. B. I., Vol. ii., p. 130. 



Records for the plains as follows: Rungagora, 5-4-03$; 11-4-03, (f ; 

 Pathalipam 6-3-06, c? ; Dejoo, 14-3-08, $ 1-2-09.* 



Gregarious in parties to the number of twenty or thirty individuals 

 though my specimens in most cases, procured at intervals, have been 

 scattered odd birds. This Blackbird is evidently much more plentiful 

 in th • eastern portion of its cold weather area. During a six months' 

 sojourn in the cold season months 1911-12 on the Nepal-Sikkim Frontier, 

 T.r.atrogularis was much more frequently met. 



187. Turdus boulboul (Lath.) [676]. — The Grey-winged Ouzel. 



Merula boulboul, Oates, F. B. I., Vol. ii.,p 130. 



Dejoo, North Lakhimpur (base of hills 31-3-07, J ; forest clearance, 

 Seajuli, 25-11-11 (S . Two records, (previously obtained in the Bhutan 

 Doars, Oates). 



Iris brown ; gape and orbital skin yellow ; bill orange ; tarsus duL 

 yellow ochre. 



188. Turdus ruficollis atrogularis Temm. [677].- — The Black-throated 



Ouzel. 



O. & B., Vol. ii., p. 131. 



Merula atric/ularis, Oates, F. B. I., Vol. ii., p. 131. 



Records for the plains as follows: Nagaghoolie 31-1-04, $ ; Margherita, 

 31-1-04, $, 17-2-03, d; Dejoo, 14-2-04, $; 19-2-05, J. 



In North Lakhimpur, if anything, this Blackbird out numbers the typical 

 form. Stuart Baker, Records of the Indian Museum, Report on Birds of 

 the Abor Expedition, Vol. vjii, p. 278, et. seq., gives his reasons for not 

 following Dr. Hartert in his treatment of this Blackbird as a geographical 

 form of T. ruficollis, but considers it a good species, probably the most 

 correct conclusion, unless interbreeding takes place more frequently than 

 is generally known. 



