238 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



and with large oblong dark spots or blotches on the breast, upper 

 abdomen, and flanks, disappearing on the lower bell}', vent and 

 under tail-coverts ; the outermost tail-feather nearly half of a 

 sullied- white color, the next with only a white spot near the tip. 



In summer, the chin, neck, throat, and breast become of a faint 

 vinous or dull roseate tint, and the spots on the breast disappear, 

 or become very faint ; the lores, supercilium, and round the eyes, 

 partake of the same vinous tinge ; the upper plumage becomes 

 a richer olive-brown, with dusky blotches, and the wing-bands are 

 more conspicuous, broader, and paler ; the bend of the wing and 

 margins of the secondaries are somewhat yellowish green, not 

 always observable ; the axillaries, and inner margins of the wings 

 beneath, incline to sulphur yellow. 



Bill dusky above, yellowish beneath ; legs brown ; irides brown. 

 Length about 6 inches ; wing 3| ; tail 2^ ; bill at front -^q ; 

 tarsus y| ; hind claw |, thin, and very slightly curved. 



In the yellowish tints on part of this bird, and its slender form 

 there is a marked approach to Budytes. 



From the synonyms adopted, it will be seen that I consider 

 Hodgson's species, adopted by Horsfield, to be the same as Pallas' 

 bird ; and moreover, that the p7'a<e?isis of Gould is probably 

 the same bird, as A. pratensis, apud Blyth (afterwards rufo- 

 superciliaris), certainly is. This Mr. Blyth himself ascertained, 

 though he has not yet published it. I can see no difference in the 

 descriptions of A. rufogidaris by Temminck, or in the figure in 

 the work on Egypt, from Himalayan specimens, to warrant the 

 separation of the Indian bird ; and ceroinus, Pallas, is given by 

 Bonaparte and others as the same bird. The distinctions between 

 this species and aquaticus are obvious. 



It has been found on the Himalayas, where it appears to 

 breed ; in China ; also rarely in Burmah, the Andamans, in Siam, 

 and in Western India, if Mr. Gould's bird be found to be the same. 

 In the Himalayas it frequents the higher elevations chiefly, and the 

 interior of the hills. I did not myself procure it at Darjeeling, 

 but specimens were obtained in Sikhim by Lieutenant Beavan ; and 

 Mr. Hodgson procured it in Nepal. Out of India, it occurs in 

 various parts of Asia, the East of Europe, and Northern Africa. 



