222 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



that several have been recorded ; and even now there appears to 

 be some uncertainty aliout the .changes of these and of others that 

 visit South-eastern Europe. 



59o. Budytes viridis, Gmelin. 



Motacilhi,apu(l Gmelin— B. beema, Sykks, Cat. 83— B.nenlecta 

 and B. flava, JeudoN, Cat. 135 and 136 bis— B. nielanoceiihala 

 Sykes, Cat. 84, and Jerdon, Cat. 136 -Brown, lib Zooh pi 

 33— Blytii, Cat. 775 and 776— Horsf., Cat 556 and 557 — B 

 dubins, fulviventer, and schisticeps, HoDGS. — B. melanocephala, 

 LiCHT.— RuPP. ¥. Ab. pi 33 f. 6—Pllhja, H. 



The Indian Field-wagtail. 



Descr.— The usual plumage of adult birds, in winter, is olive- 

 green above, with a white, or oci-asionally yellow, superciliary 

 m.irk ; beneath, the chin and thioat whitish, the rest yellow, more 

 or less pure; wings (Uisk\ , with two dull whitish yt-Uiw cross bands, 

 formed by the tips of ihe coverts, and the t<-rtials broadly margined 

 wiih yellowish ; tail blark, slightly mainlined with greenish, and the 

 two outermost feathers on each side chiefly white. At the spi'ing 

 moult, the whole cat', lores and ear-coverts change to a bluish ash- 

 grey, with, or without, a white or yellow sujjercilium. which how- 

 ever is not always present, and di.-appears eventually by the change 

 of color which takes place in the feathers themselves at a later 

 period. The lower parts, too, become more pure and bright yellow ; 

 the chin is white, ami the throat yelh)w, with its lateral border white, 



A little later in the season, the loies and ear-coverts become 

 dariser by a change in the feathers themselves ; and finally change 

 to deep black : and, in full breeding jtlumage, the whole cap, 

 lores, and ear-coverts, ate dt ep black. It is not certain if the 

 females ever assume the bhuk cap, but it is probabh- that th -y do, 

 and the only difference between tlie sexes is stated to be the 

 slightly duller plumage of the female. 



Young birds of the year are light brownish grey, purer on tlie 

 nape and tump; wings aid tail du.^ky, the'fuiincr with two w^.ili:^h 

 CF'SS bands; the tail darker than the wings, witii the two outermost 

 feathers on each side nearly white ; beneath white, sometimes with 



