e r y t h r o s t e r n a p a r v a .
Red-breasted Flycatcher.
Mwcicapa parva, Bechst. Natürg. Deutschi., tom. iii. p. 442
Saaicola rubvcuhndev, Sykes. Proc. of Comm, „f Sei. and Corr. öf Zool. Soc., part ii. 1832 p 92
Erplhrosterna parva, Bonap. Geog. and Comp. List of Birds of Eur. and N. Amer n 25
Musctcapa leucura, Grael.? ’
H I be; ery ‘" teres‘!ne could we ascertain " ’I* « » * the varions little ornithological strangers that have
o f late been detected ,n E ng and have crossed from the Continent, or if they are the offspring o f others which
a e a rn v e a ta n e a r ly p e n o d o the year, bred, and again departed „„noticed ; c e r L A is t a r n s ,
f not a l , o f these rarar aves" that have been captnred or shot in Britain have been birds of the year
— K B W m m examp' es ° f I ■ B H fiS“red a - accompanying
do successfully cross the ocean, the circumstance must necessarily excite surprise; but it would be by
no means remarkable for mature birds with strengthened pinions to make such a transit, if blown on, of
t a r course during their spring migration, and remain here, and breed. At the autumnal movement of birds
from one country to another, the young would naturally seek the most southern and western parts o f England
such as Sussex Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall, until stopped by the wide ocean, which they would of
course be disinclined ,0 cross while sufficient insect-life remained for their support; and hence it doubtless
arises ‘hat many rare birds a re found in those counties during the autumn and winter months.
O f the MmCKapa parva three specimens only have been captured in Britain, namely, one near Falmouth
and two on the Sally Islands. In the eastern and southern parts o f Europe it is very numerous ; and we
now that its range extends thence to Asia Minor and Western India. Mr. Blyth affirms that there are two
species o f this form inhabit,ng the latter country, and that the bird found in the neighbourhood of Calcutta is
different from the one described b , Col. Sykes as inhabiting the Deccan ; marvellously small, h ow e v e r-th e
extent o f the red colouring of the throat a lo n e - is the difference between them, the bird from the eastern
districts having less of this colour than the one from the Ghats, which Mr. Blyth writes me is | Mmeicam
parva vera. “
The firs, notice o f the occurrence of the bird in this country was contained in a note from myself to
I “ Est|" o f and whid'. * a t gentleman’s instance, was published in the ■ Zoologist
for 1863, p. 8 4 4 4 ; it ,s as follows On the very day I visited Falmouth, one of the rarest of
European birds was shot for the first time in Great Britain ; and, having been killed in Cornwall, I though,
you would like to know something about it. The bird in question is the Mmcicapa parva; and you will find
it figured in the second volume, pi. 62, of my 'B ird s o f Europe,’ of which you have a cop, in the Penzance
Museum. The plate will at once give you an idea of this pretty species—a Robin among the Flycatchers The
proper home o f the species is Western India and the eastern parts of Europe; and I certainly never expected
this singular bird to have been added to our fauna. The specimen, which (thanks to your genial climate)
was ,n good condition, was sent in the flesh to Dr. Gray, o f the British Museum ; and in this state I had it
in my hands, so that there is no mistake about it. It was shot on the 24th of January, 1863, by Mr. Copeland,
of Carwythenack House, in the parish of Constantine, near Falmouth, and is a female. Unfortunately
the specimen had been placed in some insecure place, and the head had been eaten by mice or rats, so that
the body alone was sent to the Museum. If you write to Mr. Copeland, ask him to look out for the male
which will have a red breast.” Mr. Rodd adds :—
“ I wrote a t once to Mr. Copeland, whose attention to Natural History and whose especial interest in
observing the ornithological rarities in our county I felt certain would ensure an accurate account of
the capture o f this little wanderer; and in reply I received from him the following interesting remarks on
the habits o f the b ird :—
“ ‘ The little Flycatcher alluded to we had seen some days before it was shot. We first observed it
on a dead holly-tree, which, with the ground around the house, was its favourite resort. I t was particularly
active, skimming the grass to within about a foot, then, perching itself, darted occasionally with a toss,
resting either on a shrub o r the wire fencing. Its habits were interesting, partaking in a great measure
o f those of our summer visitor. There is another in the neighbourhood, for which a vigilant watch will
be kept. I saw it a few days ago in a plantation four hundred yards from my house. Should I be so fortunate
as to capture it, you shall have due notice. I believe that with attention many other interesting
visitors may be found.’ ”
A young bird, killed at Scilly in October 1863, is mentioned in Mr. Rodd’s .' List o f British Birds; ’ and