RUTICILLIN^:. 81 



Subfamily RUTICILLINiE. 



The Ruticillince, or Redstarts and Robins, connect the Chats 

 with the Thrushes. They feed principally on the ground, their 

 tarsi are lengthened, and their feet are well adapted for running. 

 Tliey are almost entirely insectivorous, and they are seldom or 

 never gregarious like the Thrushes. 



Many of the RuticiUintr are migratory ; others are resident. 

 The seasonal change of plumage in the majority of the species, 

 caused by the abrasion of the margins of the feathers, is consider- 

 able, especially in the Redstarts. 



The Redstarts and Robins have the habit of frequently moving 

 the tail and drooping the wings ; they mostly build their nests in 

 holes of trees and rocks, and their eggs are of various colours, 

 generally spotted, but in the case of Ruticilla plain blue. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Tail forked. 



a . Tail much longer thau wing ; middle 



rectrices one third the length of tail. . Henicurus, p. 82. 



V . Tail about equal to wing ; middle rec- 

 trices half the length of tail Hydrocichla, p. 86. 



c'. Tail much shorter than wing ; middle 



rectrices reaching nearly to tip of tail. Microcichla, p. 88. 



b. Tail rounded or square. 



d '. Tail in both sexes largely chestnut *. 

 a". Tail considerably longer than twice 

 tarsus. 

 a'". Tail much rounded ; sexes alike.. Chimarrhornis, p. 8( 

 b"'. Tail nearly square ; sexes different. Ruticilla, p. 90. 

 b". Tail about twice tarsus. 



c'". Rictal bristles very long and 



strong Rhyacornis, p. 97. 



d'". Rictal bristles weak or obsolete. . Cyanecuxa, p. 99. 

 e'. Tail without any chestnut. 



c" . First primary shorter than one-third 

 of second. 

 e'". Difference between wing and tail 



less than tarsus Daulias, p. 100. 



/'". Difference between wing and tail 



twice tarsus Grandala, p. 110. 



d". First primary longer than one-third 



of second. . 



//'". Tail equal to or shorter than wing. 



a 1 . Outer tail-feathers falling short 



of tip of tail by a distance less 



than half length of middle toe. 



* The only exception is in the female of Rhyacornis fidiffinosus 

 VOL. II. G 



