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360. Merula simillima, Jerdon.

Turdus apud Jerdon, Cat. 83 - Blyth Cat. 948 - Horsf. Cat. 657.

The Neilgherry Blackbird.

Descr. - Male, entirely black, conspicuously darker on the head and back of neck; somewhat lighter beneath, and tinged with dusky-brownish.

The female is dusky olive-brown above; the same, but lighter, beneath.

Bill, eyelids and gape, deep orange; legs dusky-yellow; claw3 yellow; irides dark brown. Length 10 1/2 inches ; wing 5 ; extent 16 ; tail rather more than 4; bill at front nearly 1; tarsus 1 ¼

The young bird resembles the female, but, as usual, is spotted. This Blackbird is very similar to the European bird, more so perhaps than any other of the Eastern species, except the ill. Kinnisii of the loftier elevations of Ceylon. It differs in being rather smaller in size, in being of not quite so deep a black, and in having yellow instead of brown legs. Horsfield, in his Catalogue, gives it as synonymous with nigropileus ; and, under ill. mandarina, includes a specimen from Madras. In his Appendix, however, he corrects this, stating that the specimen from Madras was my simillima.

Others had, however, at one time considered simillima and nigropileus identical;  but they are very distinct, as well in colour and structure, as in habit and distribution. The Neilgherry bird is much the larger of the two, more black, which in nigropileus contrasts very strongly with the rest of the plumage; the tail is more rounded, whilst it is even in nigropileus; and the females also differ very considerably.

The Neilgherry Blackbird has hitherto only been found on the summit of the Neilgherry and Pulney hills; but I have little doubt that it will be found on the other high plateaus of Southern India.   It frequents the dense woods on the top of the Neilgherries, coming to the skirts of the woods occasionally, and not unfrequently entering gardens. It feeds on Snails, Glow-worms, caterpillars, and other soft insects, but also lives a good deal on fruit, especially' on the hill gooseberry (Physalis peruviana), now so perfectly acclimatized there. Its charming song, so like that of its European congener, is familiar to residents at Ootacamund; and, during the spring, is perhaps more heard in cloudy weather, and during slight rain, or towards an evening, than in bright sunshiny days. I have frequently found the nest,' made of roots and moss, usually with four eggs, pale blue with dusky-brown spots.

Length,-10.5 inches ; wing 5 ; tail 4.2; tarsus 1.35 ; culmen 1.1.

Hab.- Southern India. Confined to the Neilgherries. The nests are similar in structure to those of its congeners, wattle and dab, &c., being used in its composition. Eggs, normally 4 in number, sometimes 5, dingy bluish red. Size from 1.1 to 1.3 inches in length and in breadth 0.82 to 0.93 inches.

Merula simillima (Jerd.).
The Nilghiri Blackbird.

Merula simillima (Jerd.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 525 ; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E no. 860.

Of the Nilghiri Blackbird Mr. H. R. P. Carter says  : -" At Conoor, on the Nilghiris, I have found nests of this bird from the 20th of March to the 18th of May, on which latter date a nest was being built. The nest is always in the fork of a tree or shrub, varying in height from 3 to 20 feet from the ground. I found several in coffee - bushes, one on a tree - fern, others on rhododendron trees, and one on the Australian acacia. In shape it is hemispherical and open at the top. There is always a foundation of mud, and a superstructure of thin twigs or coarse fibres, and it is lined generally with fine fibres, but sometimes has scarcely any lining.

" I have found from one to three eggs. In the case of the single egg, the young bird was well developed, and as it was in a tree 20 feet from the ground, it is not likely that any eggs had been taken out. As I found six nests, each containing three eggs, I think that this must be the usual number ; at the same time I have been told that a greater number are sometimes laid.

" This Blackbird builds its nest in a remarkably short time. On one occasion I saw a nest completed in four days. It is just possible that there may have been a portion of a day's work done before I saw it; but even five days is a very short time for so small a bird to complete a nest which must weigh at least 2 1/2 lbs."

The nests of this species, of which I owe a magnificent series to my friend Mr. Carter, are always, apparently, very massive structures, containing an inner skeleton of mud, completely hidden from sight by an exterior coating of moss or lichen, or fine or coarse grass - roots, and an interior lining of fine grass - roots. The bird appears to lay a light foundation of dead leaves, lichen, or fern, and on this to build a more or less deep cup on the wattle  -  and  -  dab principle  -  a few coarse grass - roots twisted together as a skeleton, and then thickly plastered with mud or wet mould. The cup thus made is often about 4 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/2 deep. It is then covered, externally, to the thickness of one or two inches with whatever materials are nearest at hand, grass or other roots, dry slender ferns, soft green moss, or masses of tree - lichen. The interior of the cup is first lined with rather coarse roots, and then finished off with fine ones. No particle of the clay skeleton is visible in the finished nest, which may average about 7 inches in diameter externally, stands about 4 inches high, and has an egg - cavity some 3 1/4 inches in diameter by 2 inches deep. In all the nine nests now before me the inner earthen framework is present, but in some it extends scarcely more than 1/2 inch up the sides of the nest, while in others it comes up to within 1/4 inch of the upper margin. Owing to the different materials used in different localities for the external coating of the nest, these vary much in appearance; but some of them, entirely coated with moss or lichen, are amongst the most beautiful structures that I know. The type of the architecture of the nest, as will be observed, is the same as that of the European Blackbird.

Dr. Jerdon tells us that he has "frequently found the nest, made of roots and moss, usually with four eggs, pale blue with dusky brown spots."

Mr. W. Davison remarks  : -" With the exception of Pratincola bicolor, the nest of this species is the commonest at Ootacamund and its immediate vicinity. During April and the earlier part of May every thick shrub is sure to contain a nest, placed in a fork, generally about 12 or 14 feet from the ground. It is a large and very solid structure, composed internally of bits of stick, dead leaves, roots, and moss, within which is a tolerably thick stratum of clay, and within this again fine grass and moss - roots. I think I must have taken a hundred nests in my time. The eggs are normally four, sometimes five, in number, and very variable both as regards colour and form, but the ground - colour is generally a dingy bluish green, thickly mottled and freckled with brownish red."

Miss Cockburn, of Kotagherry, notes that " Blackbirds seldom lay more than four eggs, the ground - colour of which is a light green, with blotches and spots of a light red and brown. They generally build in thick bushes or trees, often on those the branches of which overhang streams of water. I once found a Blackbird's nest built in a bank just in a place a Robin would have chosen. The nest was quite exposed to view, and I frequently saw one of the birds sitting in the nest, while I rode past. This was quite unlike their general ideas of seclusion. The young brood came to an untimely end. They lay from April to July."

Captain Horace Terry, writing of the occurrence of this Blackbird on the Pulney Hills, remarks  : -" Very common everywhere on the sholas on the top. They commence breeding in the middle of March, and were still breeding when I left in the middle of June."

Mr. Rhodes W. Morgan, writing from South India, says : - " This bird breeds on the Neilgherries from March to May, building a large nest of moss, twigs, wool, &c., with a clay cup in it, which is neatly lined with bent - grass and roots. The eggs are three in number, irregularly blotched with reddish brown, the blotches being more numerous towards the larger end, on a pale greenish - blue ground. This Blackbird sings most beautifully in the breeding - season ; and they may then be heard at all hours, but especially towards evening, answering one another. Dimensions of an egg 1.25 inch in length by 0.91 in breadth."

The eggs are very similar to many varieties of those of the European Blackbird. In shape they are commonly a broad oval, pointed towards one end;  but, as in the case of our English favourite, the eggs are sometimes elongated and often perfectly oval, the smaller end being rounded and obtuse. The groundcolour varies somewhat, being sometimes of a beautiful bright blue - green, at others of a dull olive - green, and various intermediate shades occur. They are richly speckled, mottled, and streaked, and at times even boldly blotched, with brighter and duller, deeper and lighter shades of brownish red, not infrequently underlaid by faint spots and clouds of purplish pink or grey. The markings vary a good deal in extent and frequency, but, in perhaps a majority of the eggs, form a more or less conspicuous and confluent cap at the large end. In some eggs all the markings are very fine and minute, laid on, as it were, with a very fine - pointed brush ; in others they are coarse and streaky, and occasionally bold, blotchy, and well defined. Specimens occur which could scarcely be separated from varieties of the English Ring - Ouzel's egg. The eggs have usually a slight gloss, and some specimens are highly glossy. As already mentioned, in some specimens secondary markings, small purple clouds and spots, appear to underlie the red - brown blotches.

In length the eggs vary from 1.1 to 1.3 inch, and in breadth from 0.82 to 0.93 inch ; but the average of thirty - five eggs measured was 1.17 nearly by 0.86 inch.

Vernacular names. None recorded.

Description. -  Adult male. Forehead, crown and nape black; whole upper plumage and exposed wings and tail dark ashy brown: the lower plumage, axillaries and under wing-coverts dark brown, the feathers obsoletely edged paler.

Colours of soft parts. Iris brown ; bill yellow to reddish orange; legs orange-yellow.

Measurements. Total length about 260 mm.; wing 122 to 134 mm ; tail 88 to 99 mm.; tarsus about 35 mm ; culmen about 24 mm.

Distribution. The higher ranges of the Nilgiris, Brahmagiris and Palni Hills in South India.

Nidification. The Nilgiri Blackbird breeds from March right on to August, during which months Captain Packard found both incompleted nests and nests with eggs. The nests are massive but well-built cups made of moss, roots, grass and leaves, more or less plastered together with mud and with a neat lining of grass. They are placed as a rule in small trees from 5 to 20 feet from the ground, standing in the " sholas " and more open country, on the edges of nullahs and ravines or, more rarely, inside the denser forests of the big valleys. The eggs vary from three to five, the latter number very rare, and are a sort of halt-way type between those of the English Blackbird and those of the English Thrush. The ground-colour is a pale to fairly strong blue-green and the markings consist of numerous spots and small blotches of reddish brown, more numerous than in the Thrush but never confluent and smudgy as in the Blackbird. In shape they are broad obtuse ovals with a stout hard texture and fair gloss. The average of fifty eggs is 29.3 x 21.3 mm. and the extremes are: maxima 33.2 x 22.8 and 30.0 x 23.4 mm.; minima 27.1 x 22.1 and 27.2 x 19.8 mm.

Habits. This fine Blackbird frequents alike forests and open country, often entering gardens and orchards and, except in the breeding season, is comparatively tame and fearless. Its vocal powers have been much contested but General Betham and many others claim that it is a fine songster. It is principally a ground feeder but also frequents both high and low trees for this purpose. It is very active on its feet and also is a powerful flier.

THE NILGIRI BLACKBIRD
Turdus simillimus Jerdon

Description:-
Length 10 inches. Male : Top of the head black ; remainder of upper plumage dark ashy-plumbeous ; wings and tail black washed with ashy; the whole lower plumage dark ashy-brown, the edges of the feathers slightly paler.

Female : The whole upper plumage dark ashy-brown ; the whole lower plumage brownish-grey, streaked on the chin and throat with dark brown.

Iris brown, eye-rims yellow; bill reddish-orange; legs orange-yellow.

Field Identification:-
Abundant in the Nilgiris and Palni Hills. A typical forest Blackbird but paler in colour than the English birds, So that a black cap shows up in the male.

Distribution:-
Mount Aboo : Peninsular India, south of a line from Khandesh through Pachmarhi to Sambalpur: Ceylon. The well-known Nilgiri Blackbird gives its name to a group of five closely-allied sub-species, which differ chiefly in depth of coloration. T, s, mahrattensis, in which the pale collar is most conspicuous, is found at Mount Aboo, perhaps as a summer visitor only, and in the Western Ghats from Khandesh to Malabar, wandering in winter as far south as Travancore. The typical form is found in the Brahma-gherries and Nilgiris, probably extending also to the higher ranges of Western Mysore. T. s. bourdilloni is found in the Palnis and Travancore ranges while T. s. kinnisii is confined to Ceylon. The identity of the form reported in certain areas of the Central Provinces is Still in doubt but a distinct race T. s. spensei is found along the Eastern Ghats. These Blackbirds occur up to the highest points in the various hill ranges and are mainly resident birds.

Habits, etc:-
The Nilgiri Blackbird, to treat more particularly of the best-known form, is one of the commonest birds at Ootacamund and its vicinity, being found chiefly in the Sholas on the tops of the ranges, but also in other types of country. It enters orchards and gardens, and on the whole is a tame familiar species though shy when nesting. It feeds chiefly on the ground, hopping with active movements and turning over dead leaves for insects, worms and fallen fruits, but when disturbed flies up into the trees, flitting from tree to tree with powerful flight.  Small berries and fruits are eaten in the trees.

The breeding season is somewhat extended, from March to August, though most nests will be found in April and May. At this period the males sing very beautifully, perching high up in the trees : they may be heard at all hours but especially in the evenings.

In the details of its breeding this bird recalls the familiar English Blackbird. The nest is a massive, well-built cup made of moss, roots, grass, and leaves largely plastered together with mud, while the egg-cavity is neatly lined with grass and roots. It is placed in a fork of a tree or shrub at any height up to about 20 feet from the ground.

The usual clutch consists of two to four eggs but five are sometimes found. The egg is a broad oval, pointed towards the smaller end ; the texture is fine with a slight gloss. The ground-colour varies from bright blue-green to dull olive-green; the markings consist of Spots, speckles, mottlings, and streaks of brownish-red, with secondary spots and clouds of purplish-pink or grey.

The egg measures about 1.17 by 0.86 inches.