MERULA BOULBOUL (Га). 
GREY-WINGED OUZEL. 
Boulboul Shrike, Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. i. p. 57 (1787). 
Lanius boulboul, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 80 (1790). 
Turdus pecilopterus, Vig. P. 7. S. 1831, p. 54. 
Merula boulboul, Blyth, J. A. S. Beng. xvi. p. 147 (1847); Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. 
p. 248 (1881); Oates, Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds, ii. p. 130 (1890). 
Turdus boulboul, Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 255. no. 3700 (1869). 
M. nigricans, rostro et pedibus flavis: tectricibus alarum medianis versüs apicem, tectricum majorum secundari- 
orumque pogonio externo, grisescentibus, plagam conspicuam exhibentibus. 
Tuis very distinct species of Ouzel inhabits the Himalayas, from the neighbourhood of Murree to 
Assam and Manipur. It appears to breed throughout its range, and to descend to lower elevations 
in the cold weather, when it is found sparingly in the North-west Provinces and the Punjab. ` 
Capt. Cock and Colonel C. H. T. Marshall (Str. F. 1. p. 353, 1873) state that it breeds all over 
the Murree Hills from the middle of April till July; and on the Second Yarkand Expedition 
Dr. Stoliezka obtained several specimens in this district in June and July (Sharpe, Rep. Sci. Res. 
2nd Yark. Mission, p. 92, 1891). 
Colonel C. H. T. Marshall (Ibis, 1884, p. 413) records it from Chamba, and the late Dr. Aitchison 
presented a specimen to the British Museum which he procured on the Salt Range in January 1893. 
Near Simla it is common, as the Hume Collection contains examples shot in June, J uly, September, 
October, and November. 
Mr. W. E. Brooks (Str. F. iii. p. 237, 1875) observed the species near Masuri, and in the 
oak-woods beyond Landour, many being seen at Kauriagalia. General G. F. L. Marshall states that 
he found several nests at altitudes from 7000 feet above the sea at Naini Tal to 4000 feet at Bheem 
Tal (cf. Oates’s ed. Hume's Nests and Eggs Ind. B. ii. p. 95). The Hume Collection also has 
specimens from the Dehra Doon in January. 
The Lucknow Museum contains a large series obtained at various places in Kumaun by 
Mr. George Reid and his native collector, as well as in the Kumaun Tarái (Reid, Cat. B. Lucknow 
Mus. p. 114). The same museum also has an example from Sháhjahánpur, in the North-west 
Provinces (Reid, /. с.). In the Seebohm Collection is a male bird obtained by the late Mr. Andrew 
Anderson at Ramghur in Oudh, on the 6th of May, 1875, and said by him to have been * breeding." 
Dr. Scully (Str. F. viii. p. 285, 1879) writes :—“ The grey-winged Blackbird is common in the 
valley of Nepal throughout the year, always adhering closely to the forests on the surrounding hills. 
In winter it descends to the foot of the hills, and is then social, frequenting thick bush-jungle. Іп 
summer it is found in tree-forests at elevations of from 7000 to 8000 feet. In May and June it was 
very common in the Sheopuri Forest, keeping in pairs, and its fine song was constantly heard." | 
Mr. Mandellis collectors have obtained specimens in Native Sikhim and in Sikhim proper 
during nearly every month of the year. One example was also procured by them in the Lower Hills 
of the Bhutan Dooars in February. 
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