Genus PHOENICURA.

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
inwards. 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. Tazd of
mean length, slightly rounded or square; coloured more or less with reddish brown.
Legs having the tarse 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.

Tue 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 Phemcura 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.