Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 2).djvu/95

Rh Subfamily RUTICILLINÆ.

The Kutiri!liini or Redstarts and Robins, connect the Chats with the Thrushes. They feed principally on the ground, their tarsi are lengthened, and their feet are well adapted for running. They are almost entirely insectivorous, and they are seldom or never gregarious like the Thrushes.

Many of the RuticiUina are migratory ; others are resident. The seasonal change of plumage in the majority of the species, caused by the abrasion of the margins of the feathers, is consider- able, especially in the Redstarts.

The Redstarts and Robins have the habit of frequently moving the tail and drooping the wings ; they mostly build their nests in holes of trees and rocks, and their eggs are of various colours, generally spotted, but in the case of Ruticilla plain blue.

Key to the Genera. a. Tail forked. a. Tail much longer than wing ; middle rectrices one third the length of tail. . HENICURUS, p. 82. b'. Tail about equal to wing ; middle rec- trices half the length of tail HYDROCICHLA, p. 86. c'. Tail much shorter than wing ; middle rertrices reaching nearly to tip of tail. MICROCICHLA, p. 88. b. Tail rounded or square. d'. Tail in both sexes largely chestnut *. ". Tail considerably longer than twice tarsus. a"'. Tail much rounded ; sexes alike.. CUIMAUKIIOUNIS, p. 89. b"'. Tail nearly square ; sexes different. RUTICILLA, p. 90. b". Tail about twice tarsus. c". Rictal bristles very long and strong RHYACORNIS, p. 97. rf". Rictal bristles weak or obsolete. . CYANECULA, p. im. e'. Tail without any chestnut. c". First primary shorter than one-third of second. e'". Difference between wing and tail less than tarsus DAULIAS, p. 100. f". Difference between wing and tail twice tarsus GRANDALA, p. 110. d". First primary longer than one-third of second. t' middle toe.
 * The only exception is in the female of Jttyacomit fttttffi