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.