1839,] 



of the Peninsula of India. 



267 



Length about 4h to 5; wing 2^; tail 2; tarsus T ^ths. Irides hazel 

 brown j bill black; legs dirty reddish. 



Sub Family PHILOMELlNiE, Swains .—£tfr^ Warblers, 

 Genus PH^NICURA, S wains. ^Redstart*. 



108. — P. atrata, Jard. and Selby. — Indian Redstart* — Thirt-hira>H— 

 i. e. Trembler, or Quaker, from the motion of its tail. 



- 



This bird is very common in most parts of India during the cold wea- 

 ther, but more so in the table land, I think than in the Carnatic. It is 

 solitary, frequents wooded places, gardens, hedges, old walls and build- 

 ings, being often seen about the roofs of houses. Feeds on the ground 

 on wasps, ants and various other insects. Has a most peculiar quiver- 

 ing motion of its tail especially after feeding. The young bird has a 

 brownish colour, where in the old bird it is blackish cinereous. Length 

 about 0 inches ; of wing 3£ ; tail 2 T 6 - 0 ths. 



109. — P. Suecica. — M. Suecica, h.—Hoose?iee Pidda, H.—Blue 

 throated Redstart. 



I have not seen this beautiful Redstart in the Carnatic ; and in the 

 Deccan, it is far from being common, and is only found during the cold 

 season, from October till March. It frequents thick hedges, gardens, 

 sugar cane fields, and long grass or weeds in beds of tanks, &c. ; occa- 

 sionally coming close to houses; and feeds on the ground, on which it 

 runs along picking up various insects, and does not return so quickly to 

 its perch, I think, as the last species ; neither has it that peculiar quiver- 

 ing of the tail, though while feeding on the ground, it occasionally jerks 

 it up. It generally, when observed, tries to conceal itself among the 

 bushes it frequents. Few of those I have seen were in perfect plum- 

 age. Irides dark brown ; bill and legs brownish. Length nearly 6 

 inches; of wing 2 T ybs; tail 2. 



Genus PHILOMELA, Swains. 



U0.~ P. Orphea.—S. Orjofica, Temm ?— P. melanocephala ? III. Or- 

 nith. — Largest Blackcap. 



Though I am far from certain that my specimens are identical with 

 the European bird, yet from the brief and imperfect description I possess, 



