Genus PHOXKNICURA. 
Gen. Cuar. Bill rather slender, somewhat widened at the base ; compressed towards the tip, 
which is deflected and emarginated. Tomza of the mandibles, before the nostrils, bending 
iwards. Gape slightly bearded. Nostrils basal, oval, lateral, pierced in a membrane, 
and partly concealed by the feathers of the forehead. Wings rather long, with the first 
quill very short ; the second inferior to the third; the fourth the longest of all. Tuzl of 
mean length, slightly rounded or square; coloured more or less with reddish brown. 
Legs having the tarsz longer than the middle toe. Toes slender, the outer toe joined. at 
its base to the middle one; the former and the inner toe short, nearly equal in length and 
each reaching only to the second joint of the middle one. Claws not much hooked ; that 
of the hind toe the longest. 
REDSTART. 
Pheenicura ruticilla, Swazns. 
Le Bec-fin de Murailles. 
Tse genus Phenicura, as instituted by Mr. Swainson, though the term itself is somewhat exceptionable, forms 
a well-defined and natural group, of which the present species may be considered a typical example. All the 
individuals of the genus appear to be confined to the Old World, several:of the species being restricted to 
Asia, and those which may be considered as European being all migratory, and retiring on the approach of 
winter to a warmer climate. 
The Phenicura ruticilla is distinguished by the beautiful contrasts and richness of its colouring, as also by 
the sprightliness and animation evinced in the vigilant pursuit of its prey, while every action is accompanied 
by a peculiar vibratory movement of the tail, repeated for a considerable time on its alighting. 
Familiar with man, this interesting visiter frequents gardens and orchards, fearlessly building in situations 
as if expressly to court observation,—for example, between the branch of a fruit tree and the wall against 
which it is nailed, the gardener’s tool-house, or the holes of an old building or out-house, or, indeed, in any 
convenient aperture. The eggs are five or six in number, of a beautiful greenish blue colour. During the 
time of incubation, the male, conspicuous by the band of white on his forehead and the deep red of the tail, 
may be observed assiduously engaged in the capture of the softer winged insects, which he seizes while flying, 
darting after them from one resting-place to another with great celerity; he does not, however, return after 
each sally to the same perch again, like the Flycatchers, but continues a system of irregular pursuit. 
As a songster, the Redstart holds no inferior place, though its song is hurried, and the notes neither rich 
nor powerful ; still it never fails to excite feelings of pleasure from its simple sweetness. 
The male in the adult plumage has the head and upper part of the back fine blueish ash colour, a broad 
white band extending from eye to eye across the forehead ; the throat black; the breast, rump and lateral 
tail-feathers of a brilliant rufous ; the under surface whitish ; the under tail-coverts light rufous ; and the two 
middle tail-feathers brown. 
The female is distinguished by the general greenish brown of her plumage; the upper surface being more 
tinged with reddish, the throat cinereous merging into reddish brown on the under parts, and the tail dull 
rufous. 
The young birds, like those of the Redbreast, are brown mottled with white : by degrees, however, they 
lose this plumage, and before leaving us in autumn, the males begin to acquire traces of the distinguishing 
style of colouring, the head having a tint of grey and the throat showing indications of black, while the 
upper parts acquire an obscure grey colour, each feather having a reddish margin. At all stages the beak 
and tarsi are black. 
The Plate represents a male and female of the natural size. 
