

ERYTHACINiE. 



Myiomela Hodgs.* 



Bill moderate and strong, with the culmen curved, and the sides compressed and inflexed to the tip, 

 which is emarginated ; the lateral margins nearly straight ; the gonys moderate and ascending ; the 

 nostrils basal, lateral, with the opening lunate, and covered by a membranous scale. Wings rather 

 long and rounded, with the fourth and fifth quills equal and longest. Tail moderate, broad, and 

 rounded. Tarsi the length of the middle toe, slender, and covered by an entire scale in front. Toes 

 long and slender, with the outer toe longer than the inner ; the hind toe very long ; the claws long, 

 compressed, curved, and acute. 



The type of this genus lives in the mountainous forests of Nepal. Its food consists of various kinds of insects, seeds, 

 and pulpy berries. 



M. leucwra Hodgs. Proc. Z. S. 184.5. p. 



Saxicola.j- 



• Bill moderate, rather depressed and broad at the base, with the culmen slightly curved, and the sides 

 gradually compressed to the tip, which is slightly emarginated ; the lateral margins straight and inflexed ; 

 the nostrils basal, lateral, and placed in a membranous groove, with the opening rounded. Wings long, 

 reaching to the middle of the tail, with the second quill nearly as long as the third and fourth, which 

 are the longest. Tail moderate and nearly even. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, and covered in 

 front with an entire scale. Toes moderate, with the outer toe longer than the inner ; the hind toe long ; 

 the claws rather short, slightly curved, and acute. 



These migratory birds are found in most parts of the globe. They prefer, owing to their shy and wild habits, the 

 moors, downs, and dry sandy banks of the sea coast, or places almost bare of vegetation, frequenting bushes, low trees, 

 and hedges. They are generally seen solitary or in pairs, upon a perch, from which they keep watch ; and, when they 

 espy an insect or worm on the ground, they dart upon it, and having secured it resume their former perch. Their 

 flight is smooth and quick, but always near the surface of the ground. Their song is sweet and pleasing, and is 

 often uttered on the wing, hovering over the nest, while the female is engaged in incubation. It is under a large stone, 

 or in the crevices of old walls, and even in holes on the sea coast, such as rabbit burrows, that the female forms 

 her nest, composed of moss and grass mixed with wool, and lined with hair or wool. The eggs are five to six in 

 number. 



1. S. cenanthe (Linn.) PI. enl. 554. — Motacilla vitiflora Pall. 

 Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 90. ; CEnanthe cinerea VieiU. ; Saxicola ros- 

 trata Ehrenb. 



2. S. saltatrioc Menetr. Cat. Rais. p. 30. — Saxicola squalida 

 Eversm. ; Motacilla stapazina Pall. 



3. S. stapazina (Linn.) Edwards's Birds, pi. 31. — Saxicola 



aurita Temm. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 92. ; CEnanthe albicollis VieiU. 

 Temm. PI. col. 257. f. 1. ; S. xanthomelsena Ehrenb. 



4. S. leucomela (Pall.) — Motacilla longirostris et M. Pleschanka 

 S. G. Gmel. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 89., Temm. PI. col. 257- f. 3. ; 

 Muscicapa melanoleuca S. G. Gmel. 



* Originally established in 1845, by Mr. Hodgson, under the name of Muscisylvia (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1845); which word, having been 

 previously employed, is changed to the ahove. 



+ Established by Bechstein in 1802. It is equal with Vitiflora of Leach (1816), and CEnanthe of Vieillot (1816). It embraces 

 Campicola Swains. (1827). 



