258 M. Sundevall on the Birds of Calcutta. 



[Motacilla boarula ? — Several times in February and March 

 there were seen near Calcutta and Serampore, wagtails which 

 could scarcely be other than M . boarula ; but as I happened to 

 miss them, and had not before seen any living specimen of the 

 species mentioned, I will assert nothing, but merely record what 

 I saw.] 



26. Anthus arbor eus is also one of the commonest birds of 

 Bengal. Two males brought home show no other difference from 

 a Swedish specimen killed near here, than that the dark streak 

 through the eye is somewhat broader, and the spots on the back 

 are somewhat less evident than in Swedish specimens. Their 

 mode of life appeared to me unusual, as I had not before seen 

 them in their winter abodes ; they flew about in flocks of five or 

 six together during the month of February, on the ground near 

 bushes and in places overgrown with trees. When alarmed they 

 flew up into the trees. Only seeds were found in the stomach. 

 I do not remember to have seen them after the month of March, 

 but I presume that they then remove to their native abodes in 

 the north. The Bengal name is Tjorta or Tjah. 



27. Anthus pallescens, Vig. et Horsf. Linn. Trans, xv. p. 229. — 

 Griseus, fusco-maculatus, subtus albus: pectore antico lineolis crebris 

 oblongis nigro-fuscis ; pedibus validis, tarso longit. \ alae ; ungue 

 postico leviter arcuato, valido, longiore quam digito. 



°. Calcutta initio Maii. Magnitudo corporis fere A. pratensis ; 

 longit. 5^- poll. Ala 74 mill., cauda51, tarsus 25. Affinis^. cam- 

 pestri, sed pedes majores, caudaque brevior. Supercilia lata, albida, 

 elongata. Linea per oculos et altera ordinaria sub oculis distinctae, 

 fuscae. Lineola ordinaria ad latera guise tenuis, nigro-maculata. 

 Maculae pectorales parvae, longit. 2-3 millim., fasciam pectoralem 

 formant ; juguli ventrisque nulla?. Hypochondria fulvescentia. Rec- 

 trices utrinque 2 albae, basi oblique fuscae ; 3 a margine externo tenui 

 albo. Rostrum et pedes albo-pallidi. Iris fuscescens. Rostrum paullo 

 longius, sed non minus validum quam in^. arboreo. Color superne 

 griseo- pallescens, plumis angulatim detritis ; superne non rufescens 

 ut in descriptione citata. Alarum fasciae nullae. 



[Aliud individuum, non conservatum, 23 Martii, differt rectrice 

 2 a pogonio externo toto fusco ; 3 a immaculata.] 



This Titlark is only found in open fields, especially on arable 

 land, and never perches on trees. It is consequently not seen 

 near Calcutta, but is common on the more open fields some miles 

 therefrom. The elevated tarsi give them a peculiar, easily recog- 

 nised aspect, and they are often seen to raise themselves with the 

 body straight up, while the other species of the genus always 

 carry the body horizontal. One may also sometimes see them 

 hop with both feet together, but the most usual action is spring- 

 ing like that of the other birds of the Lark kind. On one occa- 



