362.    Merula albocincta, Royle.

III. Him. Bot., pl. 8, f. 3 - T. albicollis, Royle - T. collaris, Sorel - Blyth, Cat. 950 - Horsf., Cat. 276 - M. nivicollis, Hodgson.

The White-collared Ouzel.

Descr. - Male, dingy black, slightly glossed above, and dull beneath; chin, throat, fore-neck, and wide collar round the nape and hind-neck, a somewhat dingy white ; feathers of the vent white- shafted.

The female is dusky-brown, paler beneath ; the throat white, with some dusky shafts, and a light greyish brown collar.

Bill and orbits deep yellow; legs dingy yellow ; irides dark brown. Length 11 inches; wing 5 3/4; tail 4 1/2; bill at front 7/8; tarsus 1 3/8.   The tail is slightly rounded.

The White-collared or Himalayan Ring-ouzel is found throughout the Himalayas,  but, generally, at a greater elevation than the last species. I only saw it, myself, at Tongloo in Sikhim, 10,000 feet high, in the month of April, and heard its song there. In winter it descends lower, but it is not a common bird near Darjeeling.