Mr. R. Swinhoe un Formosan OrnWiology . 309 



7Q. MoTACiLLA OCULARIS, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1860, p. 55. 



This species is DOt so common as M. luzoniensis, but 1 also 

 detected it breeding on our island. It has less white on the 

 wings than M. lugubris, and a perennially grey back. In summer 

 the whole of its breast and under-neck, from the bill downwards, 

 becomes black. In the young plumage, M. lugubris can be 

 always distinguished by its much whiter wings; and in the adult 

 winter plumage, by its black carpal region and its black-spotted 

 back. In summer the diflference is far more apparent. Both 

 species have black streaks through the eye, which distinguish 

 them to the most casual observer from the white-faced M. luzo- 

 niensis. 



M, ocularis appears to range from Canton to Peking *. 



77. MOTACILLA BOARULA, L. 



Motacilla sulphurea, Bechst. 



A common resident. A male, with the black on the throat 

 just showing itself, used to visit every morning, in January 1862, 

 a drain under my window. The wagging up and down of his 

 hind quarters seemed incessant, even while the bird itself was 

 standing still. While preening its feathers, still the tail wagged, 

 not stopping even while the little fellow drew between his man- 

 dibles the feathers that form its coverts. The only moment of 

 cessation I observed was when the bird stretched its wing and 

 leg. It used to engage itself in catching the flies among a pile 

 of stones, perching on the top, stamping its little feet, shaking 

 its tail, and constantly turning round and round in the same 

 place. 



78. BUDYTES FLAVA (L.), var. RAYI. 



Our South China form of Yellow Wagtail is the true Motacilla 

 flava, L., having in full dress a grey head, and white chin and eye- 

 brow. From North China (Tientsin) I have seen specimens not to be 

 distinguished from the European B. cinereocapilla, with the entire 



* I find, as I had suspected, that the Wagtail of this form from the in- 

 terior of China, Siberia, and the Amoor, is always grey-backed in summer. 

 In such case the black-backed race will be peculiar to the Japanese islands, 

 and my M. ocularis will merely be a synonym of the true M. lugubris of 

 Pallas. For the Japanese race I would propose the specific name japonica. 

 — R. S. 



