PLATE XLVII. 



T 



GENUS MERULA. 



WO members of this genus inhabit islands adjacent to Australia, viz., Norfolk Island and Lord 

 Howe's Island, but none are found on the continent itself. 



MEKULA POLISOCEPHALA. 



GREY-HEADED BLACKBIRD. 



UNDER the mistaken impression that he was the first to describe it, Gould named this bird Merula 

 Mestor, but afterwards found out that it had been written of long before by Latham, under the 

 title of Turdus Poliocephalus. 



It inhabits Norfolk Island, where it was once very plentiful, but has been almost entirely 

 destroyed by the convicts and Government officers who lived there. 



On account of the scarcity, it has been impossible, since attention was drawn to it, to discover 

 anything about its economy ; but, with so many ardent and energetic naturalists, it will surely not be 

 long before a complete investigation is made. 



The colouring of the sexes is the same, but the female is slightly smaller than the male. 



The head, neck and front of the throat are light brown ; the remainder of the plumage, black ; 

 bill and feet, yellow. 



Habitat : Norfolk Island. 



MEEULA VIXITIXCTA. 



VINOUS-TINTED BLACKBIRD. 



14 TK. MACGILLIVRY first procured specimens of this bird, a native of Lord Howe's Island, and 

 A-*-L forwarded them to Gould, who described them in his work. As he says, it is a very curious 

 fact that none of this common European genus should inhabit Australia or New Zealand, and yet that 

 in two islands about midway between there should be two distinct species. 



It closely assimilates in size and form to Merula Poliocejihala, but, as with that bird, very 

 little is known of its habits. 



The head, upper surface and wing-coverts are brown ; wings, brown, margined with olivaceon* ; 

 throat, grey ; under surface, brownish-red ; tail, brown ; bill, legs and feet, yellow. 



Total length, 8 inches ; bill, 1 inch ; wing, 3^- inches ; tail, 3f inches ; tarsi, 1^ inch. 



Habitat : Lord Howe's Island. 



