STONECHATS AND ALLIED SPECIES. 245 



sion, which is feathered at the base. The legs are of moderate 

 length, that is, varying from rather long to rather short ; the 

 tarsus slender, compressed, anteriorly covered with a long plate, 

 in which the divisions of the scutella are sometimes, however, 

 distinctly marked. The toes are moderate, compressed, scutel- 

 late, the lateral equal, the first strong ; the claws rather large, 

 arched, compressed. 



The plumage is soft and blended, the feathers ovato-oblong 

 and of loose texture. The basirostral bristles small. The wings 

 of moderate length, broad ; the quills eighteen, the first very 

 small, the next three longest, the last three secondaries gradually 

 shorter. The tail, of twelve feathers, is of moderate lengih. 



The skeleton is similar to that of the Turdinse and Sylvianae. 

 The digestive organs are especially adapted for insects and 

 worms, but many of the species feed also on small soft fruits, 

 and occasionally seeds. 



The Saxicolina? reside chiefly in stony places and open pas- 

 tures, especially those covered with small shrubs, but some of 

 them frequent woods. On the ground they advance by hop- 

 ping. Their ordinary flight is moderately rapid and somewhat 

 undulated. They search for food on the ground, on walls, or 

 among thickets, and often pursue insects on wing. Their 

 nests are large and lined wnth soft materials, and the prevail- 

 ing colour of their eggs is blue. Most of them are migratory, 

 and those which are permanently resident, shift their quarters, 

 frequenting the neighbourhood of houses in winter. 



Intimately allied to the Turdinse by Erithacus and Gryllivora, 

 to Alaudinse by IVIotacilla and Accentor, and blending directly 

 with the Sylvianae, the Saxicolinoe present no abrupt and decided 

 characters, such as, being expressed in words, could enable the 

 student always to refer a species to the family ; and they who 

 have attempted to define the groups of this order have completely 

 failed, the indications which they give being either exaggerated 

 or not distinctive. Thus Mr Swainson gives as a general cha- 

 racter of his Sylvianae, including Saxicolinae, Philomelinae, Syl- 

 vianae, Parinae, and Motacillinae : — " Size universally small. 

 Bill very slender, distinctly notched. Feet formed for walking, 

 perching, or climbing. Tarsus slender, lengthened.'' The small 

 size is not peculiar or distinctive, and is, moreover, a useless cha- 



