MUSCICAPIN^. 465 



It makes its nest in a slight hole in a bank, and the eggs are 

 white with small reddish spots. A nearly allied species occurs 

 in Java, E. indigo, Horsf. 



A nearly allied form to this is Muse, cyanomelana of Temminck, 

 from Japan, of which Blyth makes his genus Cyanoptila ; but it 

 more resembles some of the Muscicapulcs in its coloring. 



Gen Cyornis, Blyth. 



Syn. Synornis, Hodgs. 



Char. — Bill feeble, somewhat lengthened, not very wide at the 

 base, tapering, suddenly narrowing and well hooked at the tip ; 

 rictal bristles moderate, feeble ; nareal bristles rather long ; wings 

 moderate, 3rd quill a little shorter, 4th and 5th quills sub-equal and 

 longest ; tail moderate, nearly even ; tarsus moderate, slender ; 

 lateral toes nearly equal, middle toe long. 



This genus was proposed by Mr. Blyth, J. A. S-, XII., 940, 

 for a very natural group of Flycatchers, peculiar to India and 

 Malayana, most of which are blue above, with a rufous breast, 

 and the females differ in being brown above. 



I shall commence this group by one whose colors closely re- 

 semble those of Emnyias, and which perhaps ought strictly to 

 form a section in that genus. 



303. Cyornis unicolor, Blyth. 



J. A. S., XII., 1007— Blyth, Cat. 1016. 



The Pale Blue Flycatcher. 



Descr. — Above light blue, approaching to verditer ; forehead, 

 over the eye, and shoulder of the wing, pale smalt-blue ; beneath 

 paler blue, inclining to albescent below the breast ; axillaries 

 lisht rufescent, with a tinge of the same on the lower tail-coverts. 



Bill and legs black. Length 6f inches ; wing 3^ ; tail 3 ; bill 

 at front 1 3 mill. ; tarsus f . 



This bird, though it has much the \n\\ of a Cyornis, has the 

 tarsus shorter. It has a great resemblance in its colors to Eumyias 

 melanops, and has only as yet been procured in Sikhiin. I did not 

 myself obtain it, when at Darjceling ; but might easily have over- 

 looked it in the woods, from its likeness to the species above- 

 mentioned. 



3 N 



