168 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Budytes Jiava. 



which, beginnmg at the base, runs out gradually to the edge, about half an inch from tip 

 of feathers ; second feather with rather less white, and with a narrow line of brown along 



the outer side of the shaft to within half 

 an inch of the tip. Bill and legs blackish. 

 Dimensions (prepared specimen). To- 

 tal length, 6.00 ; wing, .3.00 ; tail, 3.00 ; 

 •exposed portion of first primary, 2.30. 

 Bill : length from forehead, 0.58 ; from 

 nostril, 0.35 ; along gape, 0.57. Legs : 

 tarsus, 0.91; middle toe and claw, 0.70; 

 claw alone, 0.16 ; hind toe and claw, 0.65 ; 

 claw alone, 0.36. 



A second specimen (No. 45,910) difleis 

 in having ashy color of head obscured 

 with olivaceous-brown ; and the yellow 

 on breast showing brownish bases. Tlie 

 light markings on the Avings more distinct and whiter. 



Another bird (No. 45,913), taken on shipboard, about ninety miles west of St. Mat- 

 thew's Island, Behring's Sea, August 10, 1866, appears to be of the same species, in 

 autumnal dress. Here the upper colors are more brown ; the lower parts yellowish-white 

 tinged with brownish-fulvous across the breast and flank. Kamtschatkan specimens of the 

 same stage of plumage are very similar. 



I am unable to distinguish this species from the Protean Budytes Jiava of 

 Eurojje and Asia. Many different races appear to he found throughout this 

 wide circle of distribution, many of them more or less local, but the propor- 

 tions and general character are the same in all, and the general tendency 

 appears to be to unite all into one species. The sexes and ages of all the 

 species, real or supposed, vary very much, and, in the absence of a large 

 series, I can throw no light upon the obscurities of the subject. I cite 

 above the latest general work on the birds of Europe, in which will be 

 found the principal synonymes. 



The specimens from Alaska submitted for examination to Mr. H. B. Trisr 

 tram were identified by him as the B. flava. 



Habits. The Gray-headed Wagtail of Europe finds a place in the fauna 

 of North America as a bird of Alaska, where specimens have been obtained, 

 and where it is, at least, an occasional visitant. It is not a common bird of 

 the British Islands, where it is replaced l^y a closely allied species. Only 

 seven or eight instances of its occurrence were known to Mr. Yarrell. 



On the continent of Europe it is quite an abundant species, inhabiting wet 

 springy places in moist meadows, and frequenting the vicinity of water and 

 the gravelly edges of rivers. It is numerous in all the central portions of 

 Europe. It has also an extensive northern and eastern geographical range, 

 appearing in Norway and Sweden as early as April and remaining there 

 until September. Linneeus met with it in Lapland on the 22d of May. It 

 occurs in Algeria, Nubia, and Egypt. Mr. Gould has received it from the 

 Himalayas, and Temminck gives it as a bird of Japan. 



According to Degland, this bird is a very abundant species in France, 



