458 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



I shall here follow Pr. Bonaparte's classification. 



1. MuSCICAPEiE. 



This division contains the genus Butalis, of which the Grey or 

 Spotted Flycatcher of Europe is the type; also restricted Muscicapa, 

 containing the Pied Flycatchers of Europe; and a considerable 

 number of birds of plain brown and blue plumage, chiefly from 

 India and ]\Ialayana, a few exhibiting a rufous tint on the breast 

 and lower parts. 



I shall commence the series with one genus, which, but for its 

 shorter tail, might have been included among the MyiagrhuB. 



Gen. Hemichelidon, Hodgson. 



Char. — Bill much depressed and very shallow, wide at the base, 

 ^lender and suddenly narrowed at the tip, and faintly booked and 

 notched; gape wide ; nareal and rictal bristles rather short; wings 

 long, reaching two-thirds of the length of the tail, 3rd and 4th quills 

 sub-equal and longest, the 3rd slightly the longer of the two ; 1st 

 quill minute ; tail moderate, rather short ; tarsus short; feet small, 

 Avith the lateral toes unequal. 



This genus, in its most typical species, is indeed Swallow-like ; 

 the bill, as Hodgson remarks, being absolutely as in Hirundo, and, 

 were its wings much longer, it might readily be mistaken for one. 



29G. Hemichelidon fuliginosus, Hodgs. 



J. A. S., XVI., 119, and P. Z..S., 1845— Blyth, Cat. 1034— 

 HoKSF., Cat. 176 — Dang chim-pa-pho, L,epch. 



The Sooty Flycatchek. 



Descr. — Above fuliginous-brown ; wings and tail darker, paler 

 beneath, and albescent towards the vent and lower tail-coverts, and 

 slightly so on the throat. 



Bill blackish above, yellow at the base of the lower mandible ; 

 legs dusky-brown ; irides deep brown. Length 4^ inches ; wing 2| ; 

 tail 1 1 ; bill at front 8 mill. ; tarsus not ^ inch. 



This bird has very much the aspect of a Swallow, both in color 

 and structure. It is found throughout the Himalayas, is common 

 about Darjeeling from 6,000 feet upwards ; is sedentary in its 



