168 



NORTH AilERICAN BIRDS. 



Budytes flava 



which, beginning at the base, runs out gratUuilly to the edge, about half an incli iVom tip 

 of feathers ; second feather with ratlier less white, and with a narrow line of brown along 



the outer side of the shaft to within half 

 an inch of the tip. Bill and legs blackish. 

 Dimensions (prepared specimen). To- 

 tal length, 6.00 ; wing, 3.00 ; tail, 3.00 ; 

 exposed portion of first primary, 2.30. 

 Bill : length from forehead, 0.58 ; from 

 nostril, 0.35 ; along gape, 0.57. Legs : 

 tarsus, 0.91; middle toe and claw, 0.70; 

 claw alone, 0.16; hind toe and claw, 0.G5; 

 claw alone, 0.36. 



A second specimen (No. 45,910) differs 

 in having ashy color of head obscured 

 with olivaceous-brown ; and the yellow 

 on breast showing brownish 1ja.se.s. The 

 light markings on the wings more distinct and whiter. 



Another bird (No. 45,913), taken on shipboard, about ninety miles west of St. Mat- 

 thew's Island, Behring's Sea, August 10, 18C0, appears to be of the same species, in 

 autumnal dress. Here the upper colors are more brown ; the lower parts yellowish-white 

 tinged with brownish-fulvous across the breast and Hank. Kamt-schatkan specimens of the 

 same stage of plumage are very similar. 



I am uiuiblc to distinguish tliis species from the Protean Budytcs flava of 

 Europe and Asia. Many different races appear to be found throughdut this 

 wide circle of distrilnition, many of them more or less local, hut the propor- 

 tions and general character are the same in all, and the general tendency 

 appears to be to unite all into one species. The sexes and ages of all the 

 species, real or supposed, vary very mucli, and, in the absence of a large 

 series, I can throw no light upon the obscurities of the subject. I cite 

 above the latest general work on the birds of Europe, in which wiU be 

 found the principal synonymes. 



The specimens from Alaska submitted for examination to j\Ir. H. B. Tris- 

 tram were identified by liim as the B. flava. 



Habits. The Gray-headed Wagtail of Europe finds a place in the fauna 

 of North America as a bird of Alaska, where specimens have been obtainc^d, 

 and wliere it is, at least, an occasional visitant. It is not a common bird of 

 tlie British Islands, where it is replaced by a closely allied species. Only 

 seven or eight instances of its occvirrence were Iviiown to i\Ir. Yarrell. 



On the continent of Europe it isiiuite an abundant species, inhabiting wet 

 springy places in moist meadows, and fre(|ueiiting the vicinity of water and 

 the gravelly edges of ri^-ers. It is numerous in all the central ]>orti<ins of 

 Europe. It has also an extensive northern and eastern geograpliical range, 

 appearing in Norway and Sweden as early as Ajiril and remaining there 

 until September. Linnieus met with it in Lapland on the 22d of May. It 

 occurs in Algeria, Nubia, and Egypt. ]\Ir. Gould has received it from the 

 Himalayas, and Temminck gives it as a bird of Japan. 



According to Degland, this bird is a very abundant species in France, 



