328 TURDID-E. 



In habits the Bhiehirds resemble to some extent the Redstarts, 

 perching freely in trees, breeding in holes in trees, and laying blue eggs. 



One species is peculiar to the Himalayan Region, \yhilst five are 

 found on the American continent, three in the Nearctic Region, and 

 two in the ifeotropical. 



Key to the Species. 



A. Upper and under parts uniform deep indigo-blue, 



with metallic gloss on the rump and upper tail- 

 coverts. (Siibgeneric group Grandal^.) 



. ccclicolor, p. 328. 



B. Underparts dull verdigris-blue, or partly chest- 



nut. (Subgeneric group Sialic.) 



a. Breast and flanks chestnut-brown. 



a'. Chin and upper throat chestnut-brown. 



a". Length of tail 2'05 to 2-44 inches sialis, p. 329. 



b". Length of tail 30 to 2-75 inches azurea, p. 331. 



h'. Chin aud upper throat duU blue suffused with 



brc wn. 



c". Upper parts brilliant metallic indigo-blue, 



slightly suffused with brown on the upper 



back. Length of wing, males 4-6 to 4'4 



inches, females 4-3 to 4-2 inches mexicana, p. 331. 



d". Upper parts brilliant metallic cobalt-blue, 

 much suffused with brown on the upper 

 back. Length of wing, males 4-2 to 4-0 

 inches, females 3'48 to 3'35 inches occidentalis, p. 332. 



b. Breast and flanks didl verdigris-blue arctiea, p. 333. 



1. Sialia ccelicolor. 



Grandala ccelicolor, Ilodys. J. A. S. Beng. xii. p. 447 (1843) ; Gray, 



Gen. B. i. p. 184 (1846) ; id. Cat. Mamm. SfC. Nepal Cotl. Hodys. 



p. 69 (1846) ; Blyth, J. A. S. Beng. xvi. p. 132 (1847) ; id. Cat. B. 



Mus. As. Soc. p.' 166 (1849); Bp. Consp. i. p. 298 (1850); Horsf. 



.§• Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E.I. Co. i. p. 281 (1854) ; Gotdd, B. Asia, 



pt. xiv. (1862) ; Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 119 (1803) ; Gray, Cat. Mamm. 



^c. Nepal Coll. Hodys. p. 35 (1863) ; id. Hand-l. B. i. p. 224. no. 



3204 (1869) ; Stoinh. P. Z. «. 1871, p. 360; Prjev. Bowley's Orn. 



Misc. ii. p. 182 (1877); David et Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 176 (1877). 

 Grandala schistacea, Hodys. J. A. S. Beny. xii. letterpress on plate to 



illustrate page 447 (1843) ; Horsf. S^ Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E.I. 



Co. i. p. 281 (1854). 



In the adult male in hreeding-plumage the general colour of both 

 upper and under parts is deeji indigo-blue, shading into brilliant 

 indigo-blue, with metallic gloss on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; 

 lores black ; wing-coverts, quills, and tail-feathers black, obscurely 

 margined on the outside web with greenish blue ; axiUaries and 

 Tinder wing-coverts dull black, margined with indigo-blue ; inner 

 margin of quiUs dull black. Bill black ; rictal bristles nearly obso- 

 lete. Wings with the second and third primaries nearly equal and 

 longest ; bastard primary 0'65 to 0*4 inch. Legs, feet, and claws 

 black. Length of wing 5*7 to 5-6 inches (females 5-4 to 5-2), tail 

 3-55 to 3-15, culmen 0-8 to 0-7, tarsus 1-15. 



