quents the abodes of man i winter, like the Robin; which 
it further resembles in its note. Our European bird is 
intimately connected with the Stonechats (Sa.xvicolz ).— 
The remark of another eye witness, proves the Australian 
species to have the same relation. Mr. Caley mentions 
that he saw “ this bird in November’? (our European sum- 
mer), ‘when far distant in the mountains, in the roughest 
part of the country [ had then or since visited.” Linn. 
Tr. 15. p. 245. Mr. Caley, moreover, as if perfectly aware 
of its natural affinities, names it the Australian Redstart. 
So closely, in short, does this bird resemble our European 
Stonechat, that but for the recent acquisition of more typi- 
cal species, we should have had doubts whether to charac- 
terize it as a distinct type. 
Linnean writers, as might be supposed, have always 
regarded this as a Flycatcher, but as Mess. Horsfield and 
Vigors have recently dwelt, at some length, on the pro- 
priety of such an arrangement, it may be as well to state the 
leading differences between the two families. In Muscicapa 
atricapilla, (with which these gentlemen have compared 
our bird,) the bill (fig. 1, 2), like that of every genuine 
Flycatcher, is depressed from the base to the tip, while 
that of Petroica (fig. 5, 6), of the Sonechat (fig. 3, 4), 
and of all Saxicolex, although depressed at the base, is 
invariably compr essed on the sides. By these characters 
the former preserve their affinity to the Todies, and the 
latter to the Thrushes. In the garnature of the rictus 
there is also an essential difference. The bristles of the 
Muscicapz (f.1, 2), are always rigid and directed for- 
wards: while those of the Sazicole, although sometimes 
remarkably long, are generally weak, and diverge in dif- 
ferent directions. Thus much may be stated on the chief 
peculiarities of the groups in question: they may for the 
present be termed analogies, but there are considerations 
which induce us to suspect they are more intimately con- 
nected by affinity than is generally supposed. To facilitate 
comparison, our figure is of the natural size, and particular 
care has been taken in the correct delineation of all the 
proportions and details. 
