484 A PKACTICAL HANDOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



to E. r. rubecula. Many winter in parts of England particularly 

 in south and west and in Ireland, where birds begin to appear in 

 western isles end Sept. Others pass overseas from south coast 

 England and Ireland at intervals from mid-Sept, to third week 

 Nov. (early dates Aug. 10-11, St. Catherine's Lt. (I. of Wight) 1910, 

 15, Tuskar Rock Lt. (co. Wexford) 1912) sometimes in comj)any 

 with the Continental form. Also passes through Chamiel Isles end 

 Aug. to end Nov. Birds ringed as nestlings in England have been 

 reported from south Holland and south-west France. Robins 

 (possibly both races) occur on passage at Channel Isles from third 

 week Feb. to end March and arrive on south coast England and 

 south-east coast Ireland end Feb. to end March. Northward 

 passage not so well recorded as autumn southward. On Avest side 

 (Bristol Channel to Inner Hebrides, and east and north coasts Ireland) 

 mid-Feb. to mid-April and on east side (Channel to E. Ross.) mid- 

 March to third week May. N.B. — Some birds from Isle of May 

 in May belong to British race. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeding-bird of Portugal appears to 

 be indistinguishable from E. r. melophilus. Has occurred on 

 migration in south Holland and south-Avest France, and is stated 

 to have occurred in Italy. 



Family PRUNELLIDyE (" ACCENTORID.F] "). 



Bill peculiar : hard, wide at base, laterally swollen appearance, 

 culmen rounded, distal part to nostrils slightly depressed, cutting 

 edges hard and contracted. Nostrils free, covered with a membrane. 

 Feet moderately strong, tarsus short, not much longer than middle 

 toe with claw, covered in front with scales, some of which are 

 generally more or less fused, claw of hind -toe much the longest. 

 Wings rounded, 1st primary very short, a little longer than or 

 even shorter than primary-coverts, 3rd longest, 4th and 5th a 

 little shorter than or as long as 3rd. Tail shorter than wing, even 

 or slightly emarginate . Plumage thick and fairly hard . Coloration 

 Sparrow-like, stomach muscular as in seed-eaters. Moves on 

 ground in short jumps, generally slightly moving wings at each 

 jump. Quiet in habits ; reminding one of Fringillidce. Eggs blue. 

 Systematic position uncertain, close relationship to Warblers or 

 Thrushes often accepted but very doubtful. Eleven species and 

 a number of subspecies, Europe and Asia. One genus. 



Genus PRUNELLA Vieill. 



Prunella Vieillot, Analyse d'une nouv. Orn., p. 43(1816 — Monotype: 

 " Fauvette de haie " = Fauvette d'hiver of Buffon, i.e., Motacilla modularis 

 L. — Accentor of former authors, but Accentor Bechst. 1797 is a sjaionym of 

 Cinclus). 



Characters of genus as indicated for family. 



