14 



subdivides the southern Ring-Ousel into four species — Tardus alpestris, maculata, insignis, and 

 vociferans — but does not give any specific characters for these subspecies, merely remarking 

 generally on the broad margins to the feathers on the underparts which are never absent, and 

 the white median patches, which are, he states, especially conspicuous in T. maculatus. 



The last reference to Turdus alpestris by Brehm I find is in 1860 (J. f. Orn. p. 239), 

 where he states that the Ring-Ousel of Switzerland resembles that from Carinthia, and differs 

 from the northern form, Istly, by the much lighter coloration of the wings ; 2ndly, by the broader 

 light margins to the feathers on the underparts ; and 3rdly, by the white spots (speculum) on the 

 centre of the feathers of the breast and abdomen; and he further adds that " besides this it has 

 so loud a voice that the song is intolerable in a room, whereas that of the northern ones is soft 

 and pleasant." 



In 1888 Mr. Seebohm, in an article on Merula iorquata and its geographical races (Ibis, 

 1888, pp. 309-312), fully accepted Dr. Stejneger's views respecting the present species, and 

 states that "intermediate forms occur both in Norway and Sweden. An example from the 

 former locality in the British Museum, and one from the latter locality in Dresser's collection, 

 have white centres to many of the flank-feathers." On this I may remark that the latter 

 specimen was received through a dealer, and the locality may or may not be correct, but I 

 should certainly refer it to Turdus alpestris and not to T. torquatus. I have examined three 

 examples in the British Museum from Norway, all of which I should without hesitation refer to 

 true T. torquatus, and none of them are intermediate between the two forms. 



Mr. Seebohm further proposes to separate, under the name of Merula torquata orientalis, 

 the form from the Caucasus and Persia, and states that " in examples from the Caucasus and 

 Persia the white on the axillaries and on the wing-coverts is still more pronounced, whilst on 

 the underparts that on the margins of the feathers is less pronounced, and that in the centre 

 altogether absent." I have examined three specimens in the British Museum from the 

 Caucasus and one in my own collection from Erzeroom, all of which agree closely with Turdus 

 torquatus, but have the margins to the feathers on the wing somewhat broader and whiter. In 

 this respect examples from Northern Europe differ considerably inter se, and it appears to me, 

 therefore, that this character is not of sufficient value to entitle them to specific distinction. 

 None of the Caucasian examples have, I may add, the broad margins and median white patch on 

 the feathers of the abdomen and under tail-coverts so characteristic of T. alpestris, but have the 

 underparts exactly as in true T. torquatus. 



In 1893 Count Salvadori (Boll. Mus. Zool. Torino, viii. May 1893) carefuUy follows 

 Dr. Stejneger over the ground he previously traversed, and concurs in the opinion that Turdus 

 alpestris is a fairly separable form, and brings the information up to date, especially as regards 

 its range in Italy. 



I may here remark that Dr. Stejneger is quite correct in his surmise that the young female 

 in winter plumage described in the ' Birds of Europe,' and figured on Plate 15, was obtained 

 in Silesia (Schlesien), and not Schlesuig ; but I may add that both specimens figured on that 

 plate are referable to Turdus alpestris, as I have convinced myself by a careful examination of 

 the specimens, which are still in my collection ; and, indeed, I have always made a point of 

 carefully preserving and marking the specimens I have figured or described, so that they may at 



