.\ruscicAriD/F. 



153 



THE RED-BREASTED ELYCATCHER. 



MusciCAPA PARVA, Bcchstein. 



This small Elycatcher is one of those species which, like the 

 Isabelline and Desert Wheatears, have their usual habitat to the 

 east of our island, but in autumn and winter often nu'grate in a 

 westerly direction. Its occurrence in England was first noticed 

 near Ealmouth, where two examples were seen for several days, and 

 one — a female — was shot on January 24th 1863. In the October 

 following, a young male was obtained on one of the Scilly Islands ; 

 and on November 5th 1865, a bird so damaged by sliot that its sex 

 could not be determined, was taken on Trescoe. On October 5th 

 1883, a young male was killed by Mr. G. Bolam in his garden at 

 Berwick-on-Tweed. 



As a straggler the Red-breasted Flycatcher has been taken in 

 Denmark and off the south coast of Sweden, and two examples 

 have been obtained in autumn on Heligoland. It breeds sjjaringly 

 in North-eastern Germany and in the St. Petersburg district, south 

 of which, in Central Europe, it becomes more plentiful in summer, 

 though very local. To the south-east of France it is an occasional 

 visitor ; and, from tlie accurate description of a careful observer, I 



