MUSCICAPIN^. 481 



Gen, Erythrosterna, Bonap. 



Sjn. Synoryiis, Hodgson. 



Cliar. — Bill moderately wide at the base, depressed, slightly 

 hooked and notched at the tip ; rictal and nareal bristles moder- 

 ate; wings moderate, or rather long, 3rd quill nearly as lono- as 

 the 4th ; tail moderate, even or emarginate ; tarsus slightly leno-th- 

 ened ; feet moderate. 



This genus, the type of which is E. parva of Europe, compiises 

 a group of small Flycatchers, whose colours recal those of 

 Alseonax ; but it is most closely related to Siphia, differing in 

 having the first primary less developed, and the second more so. 

 The males of three of the species, at least, assume, in the summer 

 season, a bright ferruginous throat or breast, like the well-known 

 Robin Redbreast of Europe. One species is colored anomalously, 

 black and white, 



323. Erythrosterna leucura, Gmel. 



Muscicapa apud Gmp:lin. — Blyth, Cat. 1005 — Horsf., Cat. 

 462 — Saxicola rubeculoides, Sykes, Cat. 91 — and Jerdon, Cat. 

 106 — Synornis joulaimus, Hodgs. — Muse, parva apud Sunde- 

 VALL — Rubecula Tytleri, Jameson ? — Muse, albicilla. Pall. — 

 Turi'a, H. — Chut-ki, Beng. 



The White-tailed Robin Flycatcher. 



Descr. — Above greyish olive-brown, wings brown ; tail blackish- 

 brown, the four outer tail-feathers, on each side, white for the 

 greater part of their length, broadly tipped with brown ; beneath, 

 white, tinged with ashy brown on the breast and flanks. 



Bill dusky brown, legs pale brown ; irides dark brown. Length 

 5 inches ; wing 2y"^ ; tail 2 ; tarsus y^^ ; bill at front 9 mill. 



In spring, by the end of March or the beginning of April, the 

 male, by a partial moult, assumes a bright orange-rufous chin 

 and throat, and the lores, cheek, and the sides of the neck, become 

 tolerably pure ashy. This livery is again cast at the autumnal 

 moult. 



"This species appears," says Mr. Blyth, " only to differ from E. 



3 p 



