332 BRITISH BIRDS. 



MUSCICAPA PARVA. 



RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER. 



(PLATE 9.) 



Muscicapa parva, Bechst. Naturg. Deutschl. iv. p. 505 (1795) ; et auctorum pluri- 

 xnorum Temminck, Naumann, Gould, Gray, Schleyel, (Bonaparte), (Cubanis), 

 Newton, Dresser, (Hume), (Brooks), &c. 



[Nftiscicapa albicilla, Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat. i. p. 462 (182G). 



Muscicapa rufogularis, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 228 (1831). 



Saxicola rubeculoides, Sykes, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1832, p. 92. 



Muscicapa lais, Hempr. et Ehr. Symb. Phys., Aves, fol. t (1833). 



Erythaca tytleri, Jameson, Edinb. Phil. Journ. 1835, p. 214 (descr. nulla). 



Muscicapa iniuuta, Hornsch. et Schill. Verz. Vog. 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. fy N. Amer. p. 25 (1838). 



Synornis leucura (Gmel.), apud Hodgs. Grays Zool. Misc. p. 83 (1844). 



Synornis joulaimus, Hodgs. Gray's Zool. Misc. p. 83 (1844). 



Erythrosterna leucura ( Gmel), apud Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. As. Soc. p. 171 (1849). 



Thanmobia niveiventris, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1 860, p. 54. 



Erythrosterna albicilla (Pall.), Sivinhoe, Proc. 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. In 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. 



