BLACK REDSTART. 333 



PASSERES. 8YLVIIDJB. 





RUTICILLA TITYS (Scopoli*). 



THE BLACK REDSTART. 



Phoenicura tlthys. 



THE BLACK REDSTART, which is at once distinguished 

 from the well-known and common species, last described, by 

 being sooty-black on the breast and belly where the other 

 is reddish-brown, was first made known as an occasional 

 visitor to this country by Mr. Gould, who recorded (Zool. 

 Journ. v. p. 103) the capture of a specimen by Mr. Bond at 

 Kilburn, near London, October 25th, 1829 ; and another 

 example was afterwards seen in the Regent's Park. In 1830, 

 two more specimens were obtained, one at Bristol, the 

 other at Brighton. In January, 1833, a fifth occurred at 

 Teignmouth, and in December, 1835, one was shot near 

 Bristol. Since then the recorded occurrences have become 



* Sylvia tithys (by mistake), Scopoli, Annus I. Historico-Naturalis, p. 157 

 (1769). This naturalist admittedly took his specific name from Linnaeus, who 

 spelt the word titys, as did Gesner ; but the best classical authorities, Stephanus, 

 Person and Passow, consider titis to be right. This originally meant a small 

 chirping bird, and is possibly cognate with the first syllable of our TVftnouse and 

 7'/Vlark. See 'Ann. & Mag. N. H.' ser. 4, x. p. 227. 



