669. Merula bourdilloni

669. Merula bourdilloni.

Bourdillon's Blackbird.

Merula kinnisi (Kelaart), apud Hume, S. F. vii, p. 35; Terry, S. F. x, p. 474. Merula bourdilloni, Seebohm, Cat. B. M. v, p. 251, pi. xv (1881) ; Oates in Hume's N. & F. 2nd ed. ii, p. 91.

Coloration. Male. The whole upper plumage deep black; tail black; wings black, the outer webs of the feathers suffused with slaty grey ; the whole lower plumage blackish brown.

Female. The only bird of this sex that I have seen has the whole upper plumage dark brown tinged with olivaceous, the chin and throat whity brown, and the lower plumage fulvous ashy.

In the male the bill, legs, feet, and claws bright orange-red; iris dark brown (Hume Coll.).

Length about 9.5 ; tail 3.6 to 4 ; wing 4.6 to 5 ; tarsus 1.25 ; bill from gape 1.2.

This species, long accepted as M. kinnisi, differs from that species in being larger and in having the upper plumage (in the males) deep black without slaty margins. The legs would also appear to be of a different colour, judging from the recorded colours above. I have not been able to compare females of the two species together.

Distribution. The hills of Southern Travancore, extending north to the Palnis. This species does not appear to be found below 3000 feet.

Habits, &c. Breeds on the Palnis in May and June. The nest and eggs resemble those of M. simillima, but the size of the eggs has not been recorded.