304 RUTICILLA CYANECULA, 



this bird and the Redstarts." (This assertion is certainly not 

 correct). " Even in a stuffed specimen, the form of the head 

 will shew its proper situation. The Bluebreast does not hop 

 like the Redstarts, but runs about in the manner of the Wag- 

 tails and Pipits ; it has a remarkable habit of continually 

 spreading its tail ; and should there not be already a genus of 

 foreign birds, in which this beautiful species could be placed, 

 the term Pandicilla might be given to it for a generic desig- 

 nation."" 



I imagine this bird, however, to be one of those which be- 

 long so to speak to several genera ; or rather to belong more 

 peculiarly to the genus Ruticilla, but to indicate the affi- 

 nity of that genus, as to the bill and the form of the head, to 

 Anthus, as well as to Sibilatrix. The habit of spreading its 

 tail, especially when singing in the air, is common to all birds 

 which sing during their descent, even the Whitethroat ; and 

 that of running instead of hopping, is not necessarily Motacil- 

 lary, for the Hedge Chanter and even the Common Redstart, 

 run rather than hop. Every species of a genus indicates affi- 

 nity to species in other genera, and this very circumstance pre- 

 vents the possibility of forming strictly defined genera, which 

 in fact have no existence in nature. 



