SAXIC0LIN.E. 123 



Gen. Pratincola, Koch. 



Syn. Ruletra, Gray. 



Char. — Bill short, straight, somewhat wide at base, strongly 

 curving at tip, which is faintly notched ; nostrils concealed by 

 tufts of hairs and plumes ; strong rictal bristles ; wings moderate, 

 4th, 5th, and 6th quills nearly equal and longest ; tail moderate, 

 nearly even ; tarsus moderate, longish ; feet moderate ; claws 

 slightly curved, slender. 



This genus has been instituted for the Whin-chat and some 

 allied birds, which are usually smaller than the true Saxicolce, 

 and differ in some -other points, and they more affect wooded 

 and cultivated country. It includes two or three minor divisions. 

 The first and third peculiar to India, the second common to 

 Europe, Africa, and Asia, and containing several representative 

 species. 



481. Pratincola caprata, Linn. 



Motacilla, apud Linn^us — Mot-sylvatica, Tickell — Sax. fruti- 

 cola, Hoiisf. — S. bicolor (male), and S. erythropygia (female), 

 Sykes, Cat. 90 and 92 — Jerdon, Cat. 105 (in part) — Blyth, 

 Cat. 995 — Horsf., Cat. 433 — Sax-melaleuca, Hodgson — Pidha, 

 and Kala pidha, H. — Kumpa nalanchi, Tel., i. e., Bush Robin. 



The White-winged Black Robin. 



Descr. — Male black ; a longitudinal band on the wings, the 

 rump and the upper tail-coverts, and the middle of the lower part of 

 the abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts, white. When newly 

 moulted, the black is fringed with brown edgings, which gradually 

 get worn away. Female dusky brown, the feathers edged paler, 

 with a rufous rump and upper tail- coverts; beneath pale reddish 

 brown, albescent on the throat and vent ; abdomen slightly streaked ; 

 vent and under tail-coverts tinged with rufous. 



Length about 5 inches ; wing 2| ; tail 2 T % ; bill at front -| ; 

 tarsus ^. 



Bill black ; legs brown-black, irides deep brown. 



This Bush-chat is common over all India, frequenting bushy 

 ground, hedges, gardens, and the like, but not found in forests or 



