MOTACILLA ALBA. 273 



few pairs generally on the islands." In the Niger district 

 Thomson procured the species at Idda, and Mr. Hartert found 

 it, on two occasions, in the province of Sokoto during the 

 month of December. 



In Central Equatorial Africa, between the Victoria Nyanza 

 and Albert Nyanza, Mr. Ansorge found the species common 

 from November to January, at Fajao and Masindi in Unyoro, 

 and Mr. Jackson collected four specimens, in February, at 

 Mumias and Eavine, which is the most southern known range 

 for the species. 



To the east of the Nile water-shed, Lord Lovat remarks : 

 " This "Wagtail takes the place of M. vidua on all the rivers not 

 in the Nile basin, Kassin river, Gibbek, and Turgu." In 

 Somaliland Mr. Hawker shot one at Gebili, and writes : " This 

 bird often came into camp in the early morning and walked 

 about for a short time and then flew off after satisfying its 

 curiosity." On Socotra island, in February and March, Prof. 

 Balfour found the species "common on all the perennial streams, 

 where they reach the lower plains," and according to Messrs. 

 Grant and Forbes : " This Wagtail was fairly common in 

 Socotra both on the Hadibu plain and about the Dinichirs 

 river in the Goahal valley. A few were also met with on the 

 higher ground at Hornhill." At Aden, according to Major 

 Yerbury, it is " a regular cold-weather visitant, appearing, too, 

 at odd times of the year." 



In Abyssinia Mr. Blanford calls it : " Common both on the 

 highland and near the coast." He further remarks : " On the 

 1st of May there were still specimens on the highlands around 

 Lake Ashangi, but only very few remained. A month earlier 

 they had been numerous." Von Heuglin found the species in 

 winter along the White Nile, in Abyssinia, at Req Lake, and 

 believed it to be resident in Egypt. 



[April, 1900. 18 



