



EEYTHAOINJE. 



Grandala Hodgs.* 



Bill short, slender, with the culmen slightly curved, and the sides much compressed to the tip, which 

 is slightly emarginated ; the lateral margins straight and inflexed ; the gape broad, and furnished with 

 a few short hairs ; the nostrils basal, exposed, and partly covered by a membrane. Wings lengthened, 

 reaching two thirds the length of the tail, with the second and third quills nearly equal and longest. 

 Tail long, broad, and strongly emarginated. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, with the frontal scales 

 slightly divided. Toes long and slender, with the outer toe rather longer than the inner. 



This bird inhabits the northern region of Nepal in underspots near snows : it is solitary, and Mr. Hodgson found 



nsects and gravel in the stomach. 



G. cmlicolor Hodgs. Journ. As. Soc. B. 1843. p. 447- 



Si a li a Swains.^ 



Bill rather short, broad at the base, and the sides compressed towards the tip, which is curved and 

 slightly emarginated ; the lateral margins curved and inflexed ; the gonys long and nearly straight ; 

 the nostrils basal, lateral, and placed in a membranous groove, with the opening exposed and 

 longitudinal. Wings very long and pointed, with the first quill very short, and the second nearly as 

 long as the third and fourth, which are equal and longest. Tail moderate, broad, and emarginated. 

 Tarsi shorter than the middle toe, and covered in front with an entire scale. Toes long and strong, 

 with the outer toe longer than the inner ; the hind toe moderate and strong ; the claws short, curved, 

 and acute. 



These birds are peculiar to North and Central America ; they are migratory, appearing in the States on the approach 

 of spring, when they are usually seen about the habitations of man, or perched on the neighbouring trees. During the 

 summer, however, they seek the open pasture fields, and there perched on a stalk keep a sharp look out for passing 

 insects, or such as may be crawling among the grass, which they secure, and quickly resume their perch. On the 

 approach of winter, they occasionally feed on various kinds of berries and fruits. Their migrations are performed in 

 large flocks, at a considerable height in the air. The song of the typical species is a soft, agreeable, and often repeated 

 warble, uttered with open quivering wings; but this is changed to a single plaintive note on the approach of 

 winter. The nest is placed in holes of trees ; the female raises two, and sometimes three broods in a season ; each 

 consists of five to six eggs, the male taking the youngest under his particular care, while the female is again sitting. 



1. S. Wilsoni Swains. — Motacilla sialis Linn. Wils. Amer. 

 Orn. pi. 3. f. .5., Edwards's Birds, pi. 24., Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 

 113. 



2. S.memcana Swains.— S. azurea ? Swains. Phil. Mag. 1827- 



p. 369., Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 318. f. 2, 3. — Sialia occidentalis 

 Towns. ? ; S. caeruleocollis Vigors, Zool. Beechey's Voy. p. 1 8. pi. 3. 

 3. S. arctica Swains. Faun. Bor. Amer. p. 209. pi. 39-, Audub. 

 B.of Amer. pi. 318. f- 4, 5. 



* Established by Mr. Hodgson in 1843 (Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1843, p. 447.). 



t It was in 1827 that Mr. Swainson established this genus (Zool. Journ. iii. p. 173.). 



