134 SAXICOLIN^E. FRUTICICOLA. 



GENUS XL. FRUTICICOLA. BUSHCHAT. 



Bill short, straight, slender, depressed at the base, com- 

 pressed toward the end ; upper mandible with its dorsal line 

 declinate, and nearly straight, the ridge narrow at the base, 

 and continuing rather sharp to the end, the notches small, the 

 tip narrow, deflected, rather acute ; lower mandible with the 

 angle moderate, the dorsal line nearly straight, the edges in- 

 flected, the tip narrowed to a blunt point; the gape-line 

 straight. Mouth rather wide ; tongue short, sagittate, emar- 

 ginate and papillate at the base, rather narrow, concave 

 above, bristly on the edges, with the tip slit ; oesophagus of 

 moderate width, nearly uniform ; proventriculus oblong ; sto- 

 mach of moderate size, roundish-elliptical, compressed, its 

 lateral muscles rather thick, the epithelium dense and longi- 

 tudinally rugous ; intestine of moderate length and width ; 

 coeca very small, oblong. Eyes of moderate size. Nostrils 

 small, elliptical, direct, pervious, in the fore part of the large 

 nasal membrane, which is anteriorly bare. External aper- 

 ture of ear large and roundish. Head rather large, ovate, 

 and convex above ; neck short ; body compact. Legs of mo- 

 derate length, slender ; tarsus much compressed, covered an- 

 teriorly with a long plate and four anterior scutella ; toes ra- 

 ther short, slender, the second and fourth about equal ; the 

 first longer, and stoutest, the third and fourth united as far 

 as the second joint of the latter ; claws long, moderately 

 arched, extremely compressed, laterally grooved, extremely 

 acute. Plumage soft and blended ; bristles rather large, 

 wings short, broad, convex, with eighteen quills ; the first ex- 

 tremely small, the fourth longest, but the third and fifth 

 scarcely less ; tail short, nearly even. 



The species of this genus frequent bushy places, perching 

 on the twigs or on stones, whence they sally forth in pursuit 

 of insects, and often hover in search of them. They nestle 

 on the ground among shrubs. The two which occur in Bri- 

 tain are found chiefly on heaths, commons, and wastes over- 

 grown with juniper, furze, brambles, sloes, and other shrubs. 



71. FRUTICICOLA RUBETRA. WHIN BUSHCHAT. 

 Male with the upper parts light yellowish-red, streaked 



