MERULA SIMILLIMA (Jerd.. 
NILGHIRI OUZEL. 
Turdus simillimus, Jerd. Madr. Journ. x. p. 253 (1839). 
Merula simillima, Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. As. Soc. p. 162 (1849) ; Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. 
v. p. 251 (1881); Oates, Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds, ii. p. 124 (1890). 
Merula erythrotis, Davison, Ibis, 1886, p. 205; Oates, Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds, ii. p. 126 (1890). 
M. rostro et pedibus flavis : suprà schistacea, subtüs schistaceo-brunnescens : pileo dorso concolore, vix nigricante : 
interscapulio minimé brunnescente, sed dorso reliquo concolore. 
Тнів species differs from M. nigropileus in having the upper surface nearly uniform, with the head 
perhaps a trifle darker than the back, but with no pale area on the hind-neck and mantle. 
The late Dr. Jerdon, who described the species (2. c.) writes as follows :—* I have only observed 
it on the Neilgherries, in the dense woods of which it is very common, and may be daily heard 
pouring forth its charming song, especially towards evening and in cloudy weather. It is found 
alone or in small families. It lives chiefly on fruit of different kinds, especially of the pleasant 
Brazil cherry, now so abundant in the woods there ; also feeds on worms, caterpillars, and other soft 
insects. I possess a specimen, given me by Major Campbell, 33rd N.L, who shot it on the Pulney 
hills, which is identical with Neilgherry ones." 
The British Museum has a large series of specimens from the Nilghiris, viz. from Coonoor 
(January, February, August, September), Ootacamund (January to July, September), Khotagherry 
(June), collected by the late Mr. W. R. Davison, Miss Cockburn, and Major R. G. Wardlaw-Ramsay. 
Mr. Davison also met with the species on the Brahmaghiri Hills, and specimens obtained by 
Major Horace Terry in the Palani or Pulney Hills are in the British Museum. Mr. Davison's 
note on the species (Str. F. x. p. 374, 1883) is as follows :—“ Very common on the plateau of the 
Nilghiris, and extending some little way down the slopes, but in considerably decreased numbers. 
It also occurs on the Bramaghirris in Coorg, a female I obtained there being undistinguishable 
from numerous females obtained on the Nilghiris." 
On the Palanis Major Horace Terry says that the species is “very common everywhere in the 
sholas on the top. They commenced breeding in the middle of March, and were still nesting when 
I left in the middle of June" (Str. F. x. p. 474, 1887). 
Mr. C. J. W. Taylor (Str. F. x. p. 459, 1887) states that the species was occasionally seen on 
the hills of Mysore in the Manzeerabad district, but no specimens have been examined by me from 
any part of Mysore. Mr. Ogilvie Grant is certainly correct in referring the type of Davison's 
M. erythrotis (Ibis, 1886, p. 205) to the present species, the rufous colour on the face and abdomen 
being due to a stain. The locality of М. erythrotis is uncertain, but is supposed to be the Palghat 
Hils. | 
The following notes on the breeding of M. simillima are taken from Mr. Oates's edition of 
Hume's * Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds,’ vol. ii. p. 88 :— 
“Of the Nilghiri Blackbird, Mr. H. R. P. Carter says :— At Coonoor, on the Nilghiris, I have 
found nests of this bird from the 25th of March to the 18th of May, on which latter date a nest was 
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