150 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



the outer feathers being a little shorter than the penultimate pair ; 

 tarsus moderately long, stout, the feet large, hind toe long ; claws 

 long, not much curved. 



This form is closely allied to Larvivora, but differs by its longer 

 and more rounded tail. 



512. Calliope Kamtschatkensis, Gmel. 



Turdns, apud Gmicltn — Blytii, Cat. 992 — Horsf., Cat. 485 — 

 Mot. calliope, Pallas and Tickell — C. Lathami, Gould, Birds 

 of Europe, pi. 118 — Gunpiyora, Beng. — Gangiila, in Nepal. 



The common Ruby-throat. 



Descr. — Above olive-brown ; beneath dull whitish ; a band above 

 and below the eyes, whitish ; intermediate space black ; feathers 

 of the throat somewhat scaly and stiff, light scarlet or ruby red, 

 with silvery edges, more or less surrounded with black ; the breast 

 ashy, flanks bright olive-brown, and belly whitish ; axillaries slightly 

 rufescent. 



The female has in general no trace of the ruby tliroat, which 

 is whitish, and the lores brown ; but some old females have a tinge 

 of the ruby colour. 



Bill horny brown ; iiides dark brown ; legs livid or purplish. 

 Length 6 inches; wing 3 ; tail 2^ ; bill at front ^ ; tarsus 1^. 



This pretty bird is found chiefly in Northern and Central India. 

 I never saw it south of the Nerbudda, except once, on boardship, 

 a little south of Bombay, where one took refuge in the month of 

 November. It is most common in Bengal and the Eastern side 

 of India, and is a cold weather visitant only. It extends through- 

 out Central and Northern Asia as far as Kamtschatka, whence 

 it was first brought ; and it has been occasionally killed in Europe. 

 In its manners it is shy, solitary, and silent; haunts thickets 

 and underwood, and feeds on the ground on various insects. 

 It is said especially to frequent the covered plantations of the 

 Betel-vine. 



513. Calliope pectoralis, Gould. 



Icones Avium, pi. — Blyth, Cat. 991 — Hoksf., Cat. 486 — 

 Bradybates, apud Gray, Genera of Birds. 



