MERULA KESSLERI, Prjev. 
PRJEWALSKI’S OUZEL. 
Merula kessleri, Prjev. іп Rowley's Orn. Misc. ii, p. 198, pl. liv. (1877) ; Seebohm, Cat. Birds 
Brit. Mus. v. p. 261 (1881). 
M. castanea: rostro et pedibus flavis: pileo colloque nigricantibus: interscapulio canescente vel albido. 
Tuts beautiful Blackbird is of the same size as M, gouldi, but is distinguished by its black head and 
whitish mantle. 
The species was discovered by the late General Prjewalski, in Kansu or Ganssu, during his first 
expedition ; here also Berezowski met with it (Berez. & Bianchi, Aves Exped. Potan. Gansu, p. 100, 
1891) According to Prjewalski, this is the northern limit of its range. In the Seebohm Collection 
are several specimens obtained by Mr. A. E. Pratt at Ta-tsien-lu, and the Hume Collection 
contains a female specimen obtained by Mr. Mandelli's hunters in Eastern Tibet, beyond the Sikhim 
frontier. 
Dr. Pleske states that on Prjewalski's third journey he met with the species at the town of 
Donkyr on the upper reaches of the Chuanche River, on the mountains of Southern Kuku-nor, and in 
Gansu, and on his fourth expedition on the north and south Tetung ranges, on the mountains near 
Dorfe Bamba, in the southern ranges of Kuku-nor, and also on the Dytsehu River (Wiss. Result. 
Prjew. Reise, Zool. ii. Vóg, p. 21, 1889). 
Dr. Oustalet, in his account of the collections made by M. Bonvalot and Prince Henri d'Orléans 
(N. Arch. Mus. (4) v. p. 145), states that specimens were obtained during the expedition at Payoundou 
and Tachéling in Tibet in April. Не remarks that the range of the species appears to be somewhat 
restricted; it has been found by Prjewalski in Kan-su, where it breeds and descends to the lower 
valleys in the cold season ; it was afterwards discovered in the southern ranges of Kuku-nor and on 
the banks of the Blue River, whence it extends in a south-westerly direction to the mountains of 
Tibet. 
General Prjewalski gives the following account of the species :—* This Ouzel, named by me 
after our well-known ichthyologist, Professor Kessler, was discovered by mein the Kan-su mountains, 
where it inhabits the wooded and alpine bush-covered districts. It principally keeps, however, to 
the thick groves of juniper-bushes, which grow at a height of 1200 feet above the sea-level. 
“In its habits M. kessleri very much resembles M. gouldi, and sings equally well, usually 
from the top of some tree. The call-note, however, which it utters in rising or when flying, 
consists of rough monosyllables something like * chock, chock, chock!’ 
“The first migrants were observed on the 15th of April. They arrived in pairs or small flocks 
of from three to five, and were at that time usually seen in the thickets on the shores of mountain- 
creeks. In the middle of May the nests were ready; and, judging from the loss of feathers on. the 
stomach, the male also takes his turn in hatching. About the end of July we noticed the first 
fully-fledged young, which, during the months of July and August, kept in families. These flocks, 
and also those consisting of old birds in spring, were usually to be seen feeding in the mountain- 
meadows.” (Orn. Mise. ii. р. 199, pl. liv.) 
