MERULA POLIOCEPHALA (Zat.). 
NORFOLK-ISLAND OUZEL. 
Ash-headed Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn., Suppl. p. 373 (1801). 
Turdus poliocephalus, Lath. Ind. Orn., Suppl. p. xliv (1801). 
Merula nestor, Gould, P. 7. S. 1835, p. 186. 
Geocichla poliocephalus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 268 (1850). 
Merula poliocephalus, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. iii. p. 337 (1879). 
Merula poliocephala, Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 258 (1881); North, Nests and Eggs 
Austr. Birds, p. 411 (1889). 
EH | | || 
: T | 
d 
А 4 E! 
FE | 
| $ E 3 
Aa 3: 
ша а 
Ë, š 
PE 
4 
M. rostro et pedibus flavis: notzo nigro : gastro brunnescenti-nigro : subcaudalibus nigris vel late albo medialiter 
striatis : capite toto et collo cum gutture toto et preepectore cinerascenti-brunneis. 
In the British Museum there is a large series of specimens of this Ouzel from Norfolk Island, and, 
as far as І can see, only one species is represented. Most of the birds have very distinct white 
streaks on the under tail-coverts, but there are some which have thelatter entirely black. It would 
almost seem as if this character varied, perhaps with age, and in that case some of the species now 
separated from .M. poliocephala may have to be re-united to it. It is certain that in the various 
species of the present group the specific characters are not of great worth, and the fact that many 
of Mr. Layard's specimens have been preserved in alcohol renders comparison more difficult, as the 
colours have faded. | 
Mr. North, in his work on the eggs of Australian birds, says:—“ 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 х 0:88 inch; another specimen (В) 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-brown, thickly and uniformly dispersed over the surface of the shell: length 1:19 
x 0:8 inch.” | 
Adult male. General colour above and below black, including the wings and tail; under tail- 
coverts black ; under wing-coverts smoky-black ; crown of head and neck all round, sides of face, 
throat, and fore-neck light ashy-brown, the head slightly darker and forming a faint cap: “bill and 
feet orange; iris drab” (Е. Г. Layard). Total length 8:4 inches, culmen 0:9, wing 4:6, tail 33, 
tarsus 172. 
