VII 



TURDIDAE 



511 



In Saxicola (Wheatear) the rump-region is white, except in 

 some seven species, where it is entirely or partly chestnut or buff ; 

 the plumage exhibits various combinations of jet black, chest- 

 nut, brown, grey, and white, the black shewing especially upon 

 the breast, quill-feathers, throat, lores, or ear-coverts. The females 

 may be similar to the males or browner. Pratincola rubetra, our 

 Whinchat, is mottled with brown and buff above and is buff below, 

 having a superciliary streak and wing-bar of whitish ; P. rubicola, 

 the Stonechat, is blacker on the back, and has the head and throat 



Fi(i. 111. Mistletoe Thrush. T Urdus viscivorus. 



black, but the breast rufous, while the hen lacks the black head. 

 Other species have white rumps or tails, and the breast or even most 

 of the plumage black. Oreicola has three black members with 

 white under parts ; Myrynecociclila eight, which are grey or brown, 

 relieved by black, white, and buff The Australian and Pacific 

 " Eobins " {Petroeca), of very doubtful affinity, are blackish or 

 greyish, with scarlet or pink breasts, and some white above ; one 

 having a red head. Our Redstart, Puticilla phoenicurus, is grey, 

 with Ijrown wings, chestnut breast, rump, and lateral rectrices, 

 black face and throat ; the hen being brownish above and buff 

 below, with less brilliant chestnut tints. The Black Eedstart is 

 dark grey, with brighter rufous rump and tail, black lower parts, 



