BIOTACILLIN^. 217 



589. Motacilla Maderaspatana, Brisson. 



Blytii, Cat. 7GG— HoRSF., Cat. 551— Jeiidon, Cat. 138— 

 Gould, Birds of Asia, pi. — M. picata, Fkanklin — M. varie<rata, 

 Sykrs, Cat. 8.5 — M'lmula, H., sometimes Bhuin mamula, or 

 Klttinjan — Sakula sarela-tjadii, Tel, 



The Pied Wagtail. 



Dfscr. — Upper plumage, with the chin, throat, and breast, black, 

 with a liroiid wliite superrilium, and a large white wing spot, 

 foinied by the median and greater coverts, and the edges of some 

 of the primaries; the greater part of the two outermost tail 

 feathers white, also the edges of the upper tail-coverts; l>eneath, 

 from the breast, white. 1 he leniale lias the bl.ick less pure. 

 In winter the cliin, u]>per part of the throat, and some feathers 

 just below the eye, are white. 



Bill and legs iihuk; iridcs dark brown. Length 8| to 9 inches; 

 wing nearly 4 ; tail 4; bill at front f; tarsus fully 1. 



This is the hirgest of the group in Indi^, and it changes Its 

 plumage in suinmer only in a trifling degree. In its mode of 

 coloration it comes neaiest to the hnicuri, audit is not uidike 

 M. liigiibi'is of Europe and Northern Asia. Tlie Pied Wagtail is 

 found throughout tlio whole of India (except in lower Bengal), 

 and in ('eylon ; but it does not appear to extend to theenst of the 

 Bay of liengal It also occurs within the llimulayas, for I found 

 it in Sikhim. It is most tiuly a Water-Wagtail, being rarely 

 found excfj)t on ilie baidcs of rivers. It is usually solitary or in 

 pairs, and it is a permanent resident in India, breeding in a hole 

 in a pebbly bank, or under a shelf of rock, or even under a large 

 stone in the dry lied of a rivt-r. I have seen it on the top of 

 Government House, Madras, and had reason to believe that a pair 

 built their nest there, as others of this group are known to do some- 

 times in similar situations. The eir^Ts are three or four in number, 

 pale greenish-white, with numerous light brown spots. The male 

 has a very sweet song, and is occasionally caged at Madras and 

 elsewhere. 



2 K 



