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MERULA SEEBOHMI, Sharpe. 
БЕЕВОНМ% OUZEL. 
Merula seebohmi, Sharpe, Ibis, 1888, p. 386; id. Ibis, 1889, p. 267; Whitehead, Expl. Kina 
Balu, p. 217 (1893). 
M. rostro et pedibus flavis: abdomine castaneo: пого nigro : pileo et gutture toto quoque nigris. 
Тнів remarkable Ouzel was discovered by Mr. John Whitehead during his celebrated expedition to 
Mt. Kina Balu in North-western Borneo. It would appear to be confined to that mountain, as 
Mr. Hose has not met with it on Mt. Dulit or any of the other mountains whose avifauna approaches 
that of Kina Balu. 
Although belonging to the group of Ouzels which comprises Merula fumida and its allies, 
the present species is easily distinguished from them by its black head and throat and by its 
black back. 
Mr. Whitehead (2. c.) gives the following notes on the species :—“ This Blackbird was at once 
recognized by me as new directly I saw it, for I had already met with М. Javanica in the highlands 
of Java. It was the very first bird to greet me when I reached the height of 8000 feet, and while I 
was preparing my camp one came and settled close to me. In my anxiety to shoot it 1 got away to 
a little distance and fired somewhat over it, so as not to injure the specimen too much. I missed it, 
however, altogether, but instead of flying away it perched in a tree above me, when I easily secured 
it. It fell into the mossy and tangled undergrowth, and gave me a long hunt before I picked 
it up. I was delighted to see how different it was in appearance from its Javan representative, 
and I afterwards gave great attention to the procuring of further specimens. Altogether I met with 
several pairs, and obtained a full-fledged nestling on the 18th of February. I never observed this 
Blackbird below 8000 feet; but it was seen as high as 12,000 feet, and was most plentiful at about 
9000 feet. I never heard it sing or utter any particular cry; but the Javan Blackbird has very much 
the habits of its English cousin, even to the chattering note with which it takes flight." 
Adult male. General colour above sooty-black, including the wings and tail; crown and sides 
of head, as well as throat and chest, also sooty-black ; remainder of under surface vinous-chestnut ; 
centre of the abdomen blackish, with white tips to the feathers, the lower abdomen white; lower 
flanks and thighs black, with a slight rufous shade on the ends of some of the feathers ; under tail- 
coverts black, with broad white centres and tips to the feathers, the latter tinged with rufous ; 
axillaries and under wing-coverts sooty-black ; quills dusky below, a little more ashy on the inner 
webs: “ bill and feet king's yellow ; iris black; eyelid king's yellow” (J. Whitehead). Total length 
10 inches, culmen 0:95, wing 5:3, tail 3:9, tarsus 1:4. 
Adult female. Similar to the male, but rather more sooty-brown. Total length 9:5 inches, 
culmen 1:0, wing 4:9, tail 8:8, tarsus 1:4. 
Young. Bill dusky. General colour more dingy black than the adults, with buff streaks on the 
dorsal feathers and wing-coverts, taking the form of small spots at the end of the greater series ; sides 
of face and ear-coverts dusky blackish, mottled on the cheeks with rufous ; а broad malar streak of 
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