ERITHACUS. 261 



Genus ERITHACUS. 



The Robins Avere originally included in the genus Motacilla of Linnaeus, 

 from which, in 1769, Scopoli separated a number of species, including 

 the Robin, and placed them in his genus Sylvia. In 1801, Cuvier, in 

 his ' Lecons d'Anatomie Comparee/ tab. ii., separated the Robins, esta- 

 blishing the genus Erithacus for their reception. Since then they have 

 been unnecessarily split up into groups which it is most convenient to 

 consider only of subgeneric value. Cuvier did not indicate any type; 

 but there can be little doubt that he regarded the Robin as typical. 



There is no character that I have been able to discover in the Ouzels 

 that is not to be found in some of the Robins ; nor have I been able to 

 discover any character in the Robins which does not exist in some of the 

 Ouzels. The only definite character appears to be that of size, the smallest 

 Ouzel being larger than the largest Robin. From the Redstarts and Chats 

 and allied genera they may be distinguished by having either pale legs or 

 the throat brilliant in colour, in violent contrast to the cheeks. In the 

 Robins the bill is generally black on the upper mandible a character which 

 will serve to distinguish them from the smaller Ouzels, which have the 

 bill yellow. From the smaller Thrushes they may be distinguished by 

 having the underparts unspotted; whilst from the Flycatchers and the 

 Stonechats their much longer tarsus serves to distinguish them. The 

 Robins have the throat frequently ornamented with rich colours, in some 

 species having a metallic gloss ; and the cheeks usually differ in colour 

 from the throat. 



The Robins frequent bushes, several of them showing a marked pre- 

 ference for swamps, and are principally migratory. They all possess con- 

 siderable powers of song. They breed on or near the ground, building 

 open nests, either amongst herbage, foliage, or in holes. They lay from 

 five to seven eggs, which vary from pure white to bluish green in ground- 

 colour, generally sparingly marked with pale confluent brown spots. Their 

 food is chiefly insects and worms. 



There are sixteen species in the present genus, confined to the Palaearctic 

 region, the northern portion of India, Mongolia, China, and Japan. Half 

 the species occur in Europe; and three are British, of which one is a 

 resident, one a summer migrant, and the other an accidental visitor. 



