MUSCICAPINiE. 



Hemichelidon Hodgs.* 



Bill moderate, very broad, and much depressed at the base, with the sides suddenly compressed, and 

 the culmen slightly curved towards the tip, which is scarcely emarginated; the gonys short and 

 ascending ; the gape furnished with a few short slender bristles ; the nostrils basal, rounded, and 

 partly covered by the bristles. Wings long, with the first quill very small, and the third the longest. 

 Tarsi short, as long as the middle toe, slender, and covered by a single scale. Toes short and slender, 

 with the lateral ones unequal, the outer toe the longest ; the hind toe moderate : the claws rather short, 

 curved, and acute. 



According to Mr. Hodgson, these birds are only found in the hills of the central regions of Nepal ; they dwell in 

 woods, and have the general manners of the fly-catchers, but with a bolder and more continuous flight. 



1. H. fuliginosa Hodgs. Ann. Nat. Hist. 1845. p. 203. | 3. H. ? latirostris (Raffl.) Linn. Trans, xiii. p. 263. 



2. H. ferruginea Hodgs. Ann. Nat. Hist. 1 845. p. 203. 



Muscicapa Linn.-\ 



Bill rather short, broad at the base, and the sides much compressed to the end, with the culmen 

 much depressed, and slightly curved to the tip, Avhich is emarginated ; the gonys long and ascending; 

 the gape furnished with bristles ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and partly concealed by the frontal plumes. 

 Wings moderate, and rather pointed ; with the first quill very short, the second rather shorter than the 

 third and fourth, which are equal and longest. Tail moderate and even. Tarsi nearly the length of 

 the middle toe, and covered in front. Toes short ; the lateral ones nearly equal, the inner the shortest ; 

 the hind toe long : the claws long, curved, and acute. 



These birds are found in most parts of the old continent. They appear in the temperate regions during the winter, and 

 retire to the colder places on the approach of summer, mostly frequenting the wooded districts or cultivated places, 

 gardens, and orchards. Their food consists entirely of small insects, which they take on the wing when they approach 

 within a certain range of them while seated on the top of a decayed branch or post, &c. The nest is formed in the 

 forks of branches or in the holes of trees ; it is composed of leaves, moss, or hay, and small twigs, lined with hair and 

 feathers. The females lay from four to five eggs. 



1. M. grisola Linn. Pi. enl. 565. f. 1., Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 65. 



2. M. atricapilJa Linn. — Emberiza luctuosa Seop. Gould, B. of 

 Eur. pi. 63. f. 1., Edwards's Birds, pi. 30. f. 1, 2. ; Motacilla flcedula 

 Gmel.; Muscicapa muscipeta Bechst. PI. enl. 668. f. 1. ; Type of 



3. M. albicollis Temm. Man. d'Orn. p. 153., Gould, B. of Eur. 

 pi. 63. f. 2. — Muscicapa collaris Bechst. ; M. streptophora Vieill. 



4. M. parva Bechst. Naturg. Deutschl. iii. p. 442., Gould, B. of 

 Eur. pi. 64. ; Type of Erythrosterna Pr. Bonap. (1833). 



Butalis Bole (1826). 5. M. hylocharis Temm. & Schl. Faun. Japon. t. 17. 



* Established by Mr. Hodgson in 1845 (Ann. of Nat. Hist. 1845. p. 203.). 



t Established by Linnaeus in 1766. Ficedula of Brisson (1760) is synonymous. It embraces Butalis of M. Boie (1826), and 

 Erythrosterna of the Prince of Canino (1838), as well as Muscicapula Blyth (1843), and probably Hyliota of Mr. Swainson (1827). 



