180 INSESSORES. SAXICOLA. 



mountainous districts. Their food consists of insects, larvae, 

 and worms, which they seek for on the ground, and in the 

 recesses where they lie in concealment. 



Genus SAXICOLA, Bechst. CHAT. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill straight, slightly carinated, and advancing upon the 

 forehead, dilated at the base, the tip of the upper mandible a 

 little bent, and emarginated ; gape bearded ; forehead round- 

 ed and high. Nostrils basal, lateral, and oval, partly con- 

 cealed by a membrane. Tarsus considerably longer than the 

 middle toe ; toes three before, and one behind ; the outer toe 

 joined at its base to the middle one. Claws not much curved. 

 Wings of mean length ; first quill scarcely half the length of 

 the second ; which is shorter than the third and fourth, these 

 last being the longest in each wing. Coverts and scapulars 

 very short. 



The species of the present genus are all inhabitants of the 

 Old Continent, and frequent moors and other open wastes, 

 sometimes at considerable altitudes. They live solitary, or 

 in pairs, and are wild in disposition. Their food consists of 

 insects and worms, which they chiefly take upon the ground. 

 They run with much celerity, being enabled to do so by the 

 great proportional length of the tarsus. The dilatation of 

 the basal part of the bill, indicates an approach to some of 

 MuscicapcB ; and they also form a connecting link with those 

 of the MeruUdce that constitute the genus Petrocincla of 

 Vigors, and which inhabit mountains and other rocky situa- 

 tions. Many of the species are distinguished by the distri- 

 bution of the black and white in the caudal feathers. The 

 tail of these birds is continually flirted up and down. 



