332 BRITISH BIRDS. 
MUSCICAPA PARVA. 
RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER. 
(Piate 9.) 
Muscicapa parva, Bechst. Naturg. Deutschl. iv. p. 505 (1795); et auctorum pluri- 
morum—ZJemminck, Naumann, Gould, Gray, Schlegel, (Bonaparte), (Cabanis), 
Newton, Dresser, (Hume), (Brooks), &e. 
Muscicapa albicilla, Pall. Zoogr, Rosso-Asiat. i. p. 462 (1826). 
Muscicapa rufogularis, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 228 (1831). 
Saxicola rubeculoides, Sykes, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1852, p. 92. 
Muscicapa lais, Hempr. et Lhr. Symb. Phys., Aves, fol. ¢ (1833). 
Erythaca tytleri, Jameson, Edinb. Phil. Journ. 1835, p. 214 (deser. nulla). 
Muscicapa minuta, Hornsch. et Schill. Verz. Vig. Pomm. p. 4 (1837). 
Muscicapa rubecola, Swains. Jard. Nat. Libr. x. p. 221 (1838). 
Muscicapa leucura, Gmel. apud Swains. Jard. Nat. Libr. x. p. 253 (1838). 
Erythrosterna parva (Bechst.), Bonap. Comp. List B. Eur. § N. Amer. p. 25 (1888). 
Synornis leucura (Giel.), apud Hodgs. Gray's Zool. Mise. p. 83 (1844). 
Synornis joulaimus, Zodgs. Gray’s Zool. Mise. p. 83 (1844). 
Erythrosterna leucura (Gmel.), apud Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. As. Soc. p. 171 (1849). 
Thamnobia niveiventris, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1860, p. 54. 
Erythrosterna albicilla (Pall.), Swinhoe, Proce. Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 317. 
This pretty little species, so like a miniature Robin in general appearance, 
is fairly entitled to a place in the British avifauna, three examples (one 
of which was accompanied by a mate) having been obtained. ‘The first 
British example of the Red-breasted Flycatcher was obtained on the 24th 
of January, 1863, by Mr. Copeland, near Falmouth ; and that gentleman 
supplied Mr. Rodd with the following note of its capture* :—“ The little 
Flycatcher alluded to we had seen some days before it was shot. We first 
observed it on a dead holly tree, which, with the ground around the 
house, were its favourite resort. It was particularly active, skimming the 
grass to within about a foot, then, perching itself, darted occasionally with 
a toss, resting either on a shrub or the wire fencing. Its habits were 
interesting, partaking in a great measure of those of our summer visitor | 
[the Spotted Flycatcher]. There is another in the neighbourhood, for — 
which a vigilant watch will be kept. I saw it a few days ago in a planta- 
tion four hundred yards from my house.” The specimen, a female, was . 
unfortunately damaged by mice, the head being completely eaten away. 
It was sent in the flesh to the British Museum. Jn the October following 
of the same year another bird of this species was captured, in company with 
young Pied Flycatchers, on one of the Scilly Isles by Mr. A. Pechell and 
a nephew of Mr. Rodd’s. This bird turned out to be a young male. A 
* See Gould's ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ vol. ii, letterpress to plate xx. 
