Mr. H. Seebohm on the Ornithology of Siberia. 345 



examples of the European form of M. alba — an additional 

 proof that this character cannot be deemed specific in the 

 Wagtails. I did not meet with this bird until my return 

 journey. The particulars of its geographical distribution in 

 Siberia, so far as I had an opportunity of observing it, are 

 given under the head of M. alba. 



MoTACiLLA OCULARIS, Swinhoc. 



Motacilla ocularis, Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 17. 



Motacilla alba, Linn., var. lugens, 111. Midd. Sib. Reise, 

 ii. p. 166 (1851, nee 111. nee Temm.). 



Motacilla baicalensis, var, temporalis, Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 

 1871, p. 363. 



In the Museum at St. Petersburg I had an opportunity of 

 examining several skins collected by Middendorff in North 

 and East Siberia labelled Motacilla lugens. They all proved 

 on examination to be Motacilla ocularis, a grey -backed pied 

 Wagtail, with a black patch on the hind crown extending to 

 the nape, and another on the throat and breast. It differs 

 from Motacilla alba in having a narrow black line extending 

 from the centre of the black patch on the head, and passing 

 through the eyes to the base of the bill. In the same museum 

 were skins of M. ocularis from the Amoor, collected by 

 Schrenck, from Mongolia, collected by Prjevalski, and from 

 the Tschuski Land, collected by May dell. I did not meet 

 with this species on the Yen-e-say'; and probably the water- 

 shed between that river and the Lay'-na is its western 

 boundary. 



Motacilla amurensis, sp. nov. (Plate IX.) 

 Motacilla alba, var. lugens, v. Schrenck, Amur-Lande, i. 

 p. 338. 



In the present condition of ornithological literature, loaded 

 with synonyms, any one who adds a name to the almost ex- 

 haustless list is guilty of a crime; but where the species 

 proves to have been undescribed before, his fellow ornitho- 

 logists will admit that he has a right to plead " extenuating 

 circumstances.'' I am afraid I shall be unable to complete 

 my Hst of Siberian Wagtails without describing a skin in my 



