APPENBIX. 411 



grasses, beautifully woven together and lined inside with hair, 

 and is placed between and built around a three pronged upright 

 branch, about four feet from the ground. Eggs three or four in 

 number for a sitting, a specimen forwarded is oval in form, of a 

 dull greyish-white ground colour, with irregular shaped markings, 

 freckles, and dots of different shades of greyish and wood-brown, 

 with obsolete markings of dull bluish-grey, the markings as usual 

 predominating on the thicker end. The entire appearance of the 

 egg is dull and lustreless. Length 0-76 x 0-58 inch. September 

 and the two following months constitute the usual breeding 

 season of this species. 

 Hah. Norfolk Island. 



MERULA POLIOOEPHALA, Latliam. 

 Grrey-lieacled Ouzel. 

 Gould, Handbk. Bds. Aust., App., sp. 4, p. 528. 



The members of this genus enjoy a wide geographical range, 

 being found in both the northern and southern hemispheres ; 

 although different species are distributed throughout the Pacific 

 region, no member of the genus is found in Australia or New 

 Zealand. The Norfolk Island Ouzel breeds from August until 

 December, constructing a nest similar to other members of the 

 genus Merula, an open cup-shaped structure, and placed in banks, 

 the tops of stumps or branches of trees, at a height varying from 

 twelve to sixteen feet from the ground. The eggs vary from two 

 to four in number for a sitting. Dr. Metcalfe has forwarded three 

 specimens taken from different nests, one of them is oval in form, 

 having a pale greenish-grey ground colour, with reddish chestnut 

 markings, freckles and dots of light purple appearing as if beneath 

 the surface of the shell. Length 1-18 x 0'83 inch; another 

 specimen (B) inclines to an elongate oval in form, and has a 

 light isabelline ground colour, with irregular shaped chestnut 

 markings, and nearly obsolete freckles and dots of light purple, 

 length 1*21 x 0"82 inch; (C) is an elongate oval of a pale green 

 ground colour, almost obscured by numerous markings of chestnut 



A A— Appendix 11. 



