CYANECTTLA SUECICA. 445 



Sometimes he runs these together in such a way as to form a perfect medley of bird-music, defying one who 

 is not watching to say whether or not the whole bird-population of that part of the forest are equally engaged 

 in the concert at the same time." In this district it frequents underwood in the pine- and juniper-forests 

 clothing the sides of the valleys and also the birch- and willow-thickets along the river-banks. Captain Shelley 

 remarks that, " although it frequents reedy marshes and mustard-fields, or wherever the vegetation is luxuriant, 

 it rarely alights upon the plants, but almost invariably keeps to the ground, where it runs with tail upraised, 

 stopping every now and then to pick up an insect or to watch the intruder from the edge of its retreat." Its 

 disinclination to perch, and normal terrestrial habit, which show its affinity to the rest of the Saxicolina?, are 

 likewise noted by Dr. Scully, who observed it in Yarkand, and who remarks that "it did not seem to perch, 

 but moved about pretty rapidly on the ground, picking up insects, and every now and then spreading out its tail 

 widely." The same writer says that its Turki name is given it on account of a sound which it is said to make, 

 resembling the noise of the spinning-wheels used by the women of Yarkand. It feeds on insects, and while 

 doing so, says Jerdon, sometimes jerks up its tail, but does not quiver it like the Redstarts. 



Nidification. — In the neighbourhood of Yarkand, the Bluethroat breeds in May, the nest being, says 

 Dr. Scully, placed usually in long grass. The eggs are described as " moderate ovals, compressed at one end, 

 and with a very slight gloss ; the ground-colour is pale greyish green, abundantly blotched and spotted with 

 light greyish brown, the whole surface of the egg having these markings pretty widely distributed over it." 



PASSERES. 

 Fam. TUKDIM. 



Bill straight, compressed towards the tip, the culmen gently curved, and the tip more or 

 less notched. Eictal bristles generally small. Wings with the 1st quill markedly reduced. 

 Tail, shorter than the wings, of 12 feathers, except in one genus, in which the number varies 

 from 12 to 14. Tarsus smooth, longer than the middle toe. 



With a single annual moult. 



Genus LARVIVORA. 



Bill straight, compressed ; culmen slanting from the base and curved at the tip only, which 

 is obsoletely notched. Eictal bristles short and scanty. Nostrils exposed. Wing with the 

 1st quill much reduced, slightly exceeding the primary-coverts ; the 4th longest, and the 2nd 

 equal to the 6th. Tail short, about two thirds the length of the wing. Tarsus long and slender, 

 smooth in front. Feet delicate ; the middle toe much exceeding the lateral ones. 



Of small size. 



