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D 



Genus NEMURA. 



Motacilla apud Pallas, Reise Russ. Reichs, ii. App. p. 709 (1773). 

 Nemura, Hodgson, P. Z. S. 1845, p. 27. 



Lusciola apud Temminck & Schlegel, Fauna Japonica, Aves, p. 54 (1850). 

 Ianthea apud Swinhoe, Ibis, 1861, p. 329. 



In many respects the Bluetails resemble the Robins as well as the Redstarts, being perhaps, to 

 judge from their habits, nearer to the latter, though their eggs assimilate more closely to those 

 of Erithacus. According to some authors, they resemble the Flycatchers very closely in their 

 general habits. They frequent groves, and are more frequently seen on the tops of the lofty 

 trees than in the bushes. Their song, though not of a very high quality, is pleasing. They 

 feed chiefly on insects, and are said to search for their food both on the tops of the trees and 

 on the ground. They build carelessly constructed nests in the clefts of rocks, and deposit four 

 dull bluish white eggs spotted with pale reddish brown. 



Only one species is found in the Western Palsearctic Region ; and it ranges right across the 

 Eastern Palsearctic and southward into the Indian Region. 



This species, Nemura cyanura, which is the type of the genus, has the beak tolerably stout, 

 slightly broad at the base, the notch at the tip tolerably distinct ; nostrils basal, oval ; the 

 bristles on the gape distinct and rather long ; wings moderately long, first quill over one third 

 of an inch longer than the coverts, second shorter than the seventh, fourth the longest ; legs long 

 and rather slender, tarsus covered with a long anterior plate and four inferior scutellse ; middle 

 toe with claw considerably shorter than the tarsus ; tail rather long, slightly forked. 



it 



