THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 199 



111. Merula KESSLERI5 n. sp. Drost Kesslera. (Plate LIV. 11.) 



Capite toto, collo, alis caudaque nigris, dorso et pectore isabellinis ; abdomine, uropygio scapulari- 

 busque ferrugineis ; subalaribus fuscis j subcaudalibus nigricantibus ferrugineo variis ; rostro 

 flavo^ pedibiis nigricantibus. 



Fem. capite et coUo fuscis ; pectore et dorso pallidioribus ; abdomine sordide ruf escente ; 

 alis caudaque fuscis. 



Measurements: — 



Length. Widtb. Wing. Tail. Culmen. 



in. in. in. in. in. in. in. 



d . . . 11 2-12 17-18 6-25 5 25 0'74 



? . . . 11-5 16 5-85 4-8 08 



Gape. Tarsus. Middle toe. Hind toe. 



in. in. in. in. 



c? . . . ri3 1-4 0-9 0-5 



? . . . 1-16 1-44 0-95 0-5 



Quills— 4th largest, 3rd = 5th somewhat shorter, 2nd = 6th5 1st shorter 

 than the large wing-eoverts ; 3rd, 4th, and 5th a little cut out at the end of the 

 outer web. In the rounded tail of twelve feathers the outer are 0^'-5 shorter 

 than the middle ones. Culmen of male yellow, that of the female blackish, 

 and yellow only at the base ; legs dark horn-colour; iris dark brown. 



Male, — Head, neck, crop, wings, and tail pale black ; back and breast 

 greyish ; shoulders, stomach, rump, and flanks rust-colour, getting deeper 

 underneath. Large and medium upper wing-coverts are of a similar colour 

 to the quills ; small upper wing- coverts greyish brown ; under wing-coverts 

 browm or blackish. Feathers under the shoulders light greyish brown, with 

 blackish points. Upper tail-coverts grey or blackish, with wide light-brown 

 edges ; under tail-coverts black, with rust-coloured edges. 



Female. — General plumage similar to that of the male, only all colours 

 are paler. Head, neck, and crop brown ; throat somewhat paler, and marked 

 with small black streaks. Breast and back greyish pale brown ; rump of 



