PH^NICORNIS flammeus. 

 Orange Redhird. 



Family Laniadse. Sub-family Ceblepyrinse. Nob. 



Generic (?) Character. 



Bill with the sides compressed, the under mandible rather thick, 

 the gonyx ascending : rictns bristled. Feathers on the back 

 and rump slightly spinous. Wings short. Tail rather 

 lengthened, graduated, the tip forked : the feathers narrow, 



PHiENlcORNls. Nob. Boie (pars.) 



Specific Character. 



a loss}/ black and golden orange: head, throat, wings, upper part of 

 the back and middle of the tail glossy black; wings icith two 

 stripes of orange. 



Muscicapa flannnea. Auct. Teni. PI. Col. pi. 263. 



Mus. Paris. Nost. 



The Birds now arranged under this group, exclusively 

 belong to Southern India and its luxuriant Islands. About 

 five species have been discovered, most of which are orna- 

 mented with a plumage of the brightest scarlet, crimson, or 

 orange, relieved by glossy black. Their economy is not 

 known, but their structure leads us to believe they live upon 

 caterpillars and soft insects : as another group, representing 

 these birds in Africa, are known to prefer such food. Both 

 have the back feathers thick and rigid; although these cha- 

 racters are least apparent in Phaenicornis. Our figure is 

 nearly of the natural size. The female is stated to be 

 yellow, where the male is orange. It appears to be not 

 uncommon in Java. 



The genera Pariis, TurJus, Muscicapa and Sylvia have 

 alternately been made the receptacles for these birds ; to 

 neither of which do we consider they have any immediate 

 affinity. Their whole structure evidently accords with that 

 of the Ceblepyrii, or Caterpillar catchers, of M. Cuvier; 

 a group first pointed out by Le Vaillant : but as these have 

 never been put in order, we can say nothing on the rank of 

 PhsenicorniSj or on its various relations. 



