The male of this species cannot be confounded with any other Blackbird, but the female resembles the females of the other species somewhat in colour and M. simillima in size. From this latter she may generally be recognized by the whitish abdomen.
Distribution. The western parts of India from the Nilgiris and Mysore up to Mount Abu. This species extends into the interior of the peninsula, and has been recorded from Chikalda, Raipur, and Sambalpur. It appears to be a summer visitor only to the extreme northern portions of its range, but to be resident else- where.
Habits, &c. Breeds throughout its limits from May to July, constructing a nest of twigs and grass mixed with earth and moss, and laying three eggs, which are greenish marked with brownish red and purple, and measure about 1*08 by *82.
672. Merula albicincta. The WhiU-eoUartd Ouzel.
Turdus albocinctus, Royle, El. Bot. Himal. fyc. pp. Ixxvii, Ixxviii (1839).
Turdus albicollis, op. cit. pi. viii, tig. 3. Merula nivicollis, Hodgs. Gray's Zool. Misc. p. 83 (1844).
Merula albocincta (Royle), Blyth, Cat. p. 162 ; Horsf. fy M. Cat. i, p. 107 ; Jerd. B. I. i, p. 526 ; Stoh'czka, J. A. 8. B. xxxvii, pt. ii, p. 35 ; Blanf. J. A. S. B. xli, pt. ii, p. 49; Hume, Cat. no. 362 ; >SVv/%, S. F. viii, p. 285 ; Seebohm, Cat. B. M. v, p. 245 ; Oates in Hume's N. $ E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 92.
Kundoo kastura, Hind.
Coloration. Male. Entire plumage black, except the hind neck, upper back, sides of neck, chin, throat, and upper breast, which are white and form a broad collar ; the chin and throat frequently streaked with brown ; under tail-coverts with white shafts.
Female. Forehead, crown, nape, and sides of the head rufous-brown ; the white parts in the male replaced by dull ashy ; lesser ving-coverts, scapulars, back, rump, and upper tail-coverts rufous-brown ; wings and tail dark brown tinged with olivaceous ; breast, under wing-coverts, and axillaries rufous, gradually becoming darker and blacker on the remainder of the lower plumage, many of the feathers of which are fringed with light rufous; under tail-coverts with white shafts.
The nestling exhibits no indication of the white collar till the autumn moult.
Bill yellow, dusky at extreme tip ; iris deep brown ; tarsi and toes buffy yellow ; claws brown-horny (Scully).
Length about 11; tail 4*4; wing 5%5 ; tarsus 1/3; bill from gape 1-3.
Distribution. The Himalayas from Eastern Kashmir to Sikhim. In the summer this species is found up to 13,000 feet, and in winter down to 7000 feet. Godwin-Austen procured this Ouzel at Remta in Manipur.
Habits, fyc. Found singly or in pairs. Breeds in May. The
