312 RUTICILLA TITHYS. 



part of the forehead, the loral space, a narrow portion over the 

 eye, the cheeks, the sides and fore part of the neck, with the 

 breast and sides of the body, black, all the feathers margined 

 with light grey when entire ; the abdomen light grey, ulti- 

 mately greyish-wdiite ; the lower tail-coverts reddish ; the 

 lower wing-coverts greyish-white. 



Length to end of tail 6 inches ; bill along the ridge -^^ ; 

 wing from flexure S/^ ; tail 2 5 ; tarsus 1 ; hind toe ||, its 

 claw ^V2 ; middle toe ^%, its claw -i^. 



Female. — The female has the upper parts greyish-brown, 

 the lower light grey ; the wings dusky, the secondaries broadly 

 margined with yellowish-white ; the rump reddish-brown, the 

 tail brownish-red, of a duller tint than in the male. It can 

 scarcely be distinguished from that of the preceding species. 



Length to end of tail 5f inches. 



Habits. — The above descriptions are taken from French 

 specimens, as only a few individuals have been met with in 

 this country. It is described by continental authors as being rare 

 in the northern parts of Europe, but common in the southern, 

 whence, however, it migrates in autumn, although a few indivi- 

 duals sometimes remain all winter. In its habits it resem- 

 bles the Wheatear, preferring stony places, and bare pastures. 

 It feeds on insects, larvae, worms, and berries ; nestles in the 

 fissures of rocks, the holes of walls and buildings, or among 

 stones, forming its nest of dry grass, and lining it with hair. 

 The eggs are five or six, white and glossy. 



The first British specimen was obtained at Kilburn, near 

 London, in October 1829, and described by Mr Gould in the 

 fifth volume of the Zoological Journal. In the summer of 

 1830, another was obtained near Bristol, and a third at Brigh- 

 ton. In January 1833, a fourth was procured at Teignmouth 

 in Devonshire, and a fifth near Bristol in December 1835. 



Young. — According to M. Temminck, the young are similar 

 to the adult female until spring. The female is distinguished 

 from the male by having the body of a paler grey, and the 

 rump of a duller red. 



