

ERYTHACIN.dE. 



Ruticilla Brehm.* 



Bill moderate, rather depressed, broad at the gape, furnished with short bristles, and gradually 

 compressed on the sides ; the culmen straight, but gradually bent downwards at the tip, which is 

 emarginated ; the lateral margins straight and inflexed ; the gonys long and slightly advancing upwards 

 to the tip ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and sunk in a membranous groove, with the opening rather 

 rounded. Wings lengthened, reaching two thirds the length of the tail, and rounded, with the fourth 

 and fifth quills equal and longest. Tail long, broad, and emarginated. Tarsi much longer than the 

 middle toe, and covered in front with a lengthened scale. Toes short and slender, with the lateral ones 

 rather short and equal ; the hind toe long and strong ; the claws moderate, compressed, and acute. 



These migratory birds are found in various parts of the Old World. They are active, restless, and solitary in their 

 habits, frequenting wooded places, gardens, old walls, and buildings. They generally seek their food, which consists of 

 insects and berries, on the ground ; and while thus engaged, and especially after feeding, they occasionally spread their 

 tail, and jerk it up and down. The nest is built in crevices of old walls, and in holes of decayed trees. It is formed 

 of moss, lined internally with hair and feathers. The female usually lays from six to eight eggs. 



1. R. phwnicurus (Linn.) PL enl. 351. f. 1, 2. — Phcenicura ru- 

 ticilla Swains. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 95. 



2. R. tithys (Scop.) Edwards's Birds, pi. 29. — Motacilla ery- 

 thacus Linn. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. $6. ; M. gibraltariensis Gmel. 



3. R. aurorea (Pall.) Zoogr. i. 477 Motacilla erythrogastra 



Giildenst. KM. Kupf. Vog. t. 9.6. f. 1. 



4. R. atrata (Gmel.) Jard. & Selby, 111. of Om. pi. 86. f. 3. 



5. R. leucocephala (Vigors), Proc. Z. S. 1831. p. 35., Gould, 

 Cent, of B. pi. 26. f. 2. 



6'. R. carukocephala (Vigors), Proc. Z. S. 1831. p. 35., Gould, 

 Cent, of B. pi. 25. f. 2. 



7. R. fuliginosa (Vigors), Pioc. Z. S. 1831. p. 35. — Phcenicura 

 plumbea Gould. 



8. R. Reevesii (Gray), Zool. Misc. p. 1. 



g. R. albifrons (Brandt.). 



10. R. frontalis (Vigors), Proc. Z. S. 1831. p. 172., Gould, 

 Cent, of B. pi. 26. f. 1. 



11. R. simplex Less. Rev. Zool. 1840. p. 265. 



12. R. melanura Less. Rev. Zool. 1842. p. 265. 



13. R. leucoptera Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1843. p. 962. 



14. R. cyana (Hodgs.) Journ. As. Soc. B. 1337- p. 102. — Phce- 

 nicura superciliaris Jerd. ; Larvivora brunnea Hodgs. ; Type of 

 Larvivora Hodgs. (1837). 



15. R. cruralis (Bl.) Journ. As. Soc. B. 1843. p. 933. — Larvi- 

 vora homochroa Hodgs. MS. 



16. R. ? . . — Cinclidium frontale Bl. Journ. As. Soc. B- 



1842.181., 1843. .054. 



Nemura Hodgs.-f 



Bill moderate, broad at the base, and furnished with short bristles ; the sides gradually compressed ; 

 the culmen curved to the tip, which is emarginated ; the lateral margins straight and inflexed, and the 

 gonys long and advancing upwards ; the gape furnished with short bristles ; the nostrils basal, lateral, 

 and sunk in a small groove, with the opening small and rounded. Wings rather long, rounded, with 

 the fourth and fifth quills nearly equal and longest. Tail long and rounded, with the ends of the 

 feathers mncronate. Tarsi slender, much longer than the middle toe, and covered in front with an 



* This genus was originally established in 1826 by M. Boie, under the name of Ficedula. This word having been previously used, it 

 becomes necessary to adopt Ruticilla of M. Brehm (1828). It is equal with Phcenicura (1831) of Mr. Swainson. It embraces Larvivora 

 (1837) of Mr. Hodgson, and probably Cinclidium of Mr. Blyth (1842). 



t Established by' Mr. Hodgson in 1845 {Proc. Z. S. 1845). It embraces Tursiyer of the same author. 



