76 Capt. Beavan on various Indian Birds. 



The plumage of the female is more dully coloured than that of 

 the male. 



The legs and claws are fleshy white. Dr. Jerdon is evidently 

 in error when he calls the former " black." 



589. MOTACILLA MADERASPATANA. Picd Wagtail. 



I only met with this Wagtail on the Cossye Eiver in Maun- 

 bhoom, in February 1865, where I found it tolerably common, 

 in pairs, in the vicinity of rocks. It is doubtless to be found 

 on the other hill-streams of that district. I was greatly struck 

 with its song the first time I heard it. The male, seated on a 

 rock in mid-stream, gave out one of the most delicious melodies 

 that I have ever heard, particularly clear and sweet, and second 

 to no other Indian sougster, except perhaps Cittocincla macrura. 

 In this species I did not observe the peculiar jerking motion of 

 the tail, so characteristic of the English Wagtail. 



590. MoTACiLLA LUZONiENSis. Whitc-faced Wagtail. 

 This species is tolerably common by the banks of rivers in 



Maunbhoom, and has a pleasing song, which, however, wants 

 the tone and execution of that of M. maderaspatana. 



Moulmein, Sept. 25th, 1865. I am inclined to think that the 

 grey garb, described by Dr. Jerdon as the " winter plumage " 

 of this species, is the usual dress of the female, whilst that of 

 the male is described by him as the " summer plumage ; " at 

 least a pair first seen here to-day are so ; they have only just 

 arrived, and are in beautiful plumage. In what I take to be 

 the female in cold-weather plumage, the breast-band only is 

 black, the rest ashy-grey. I also observed this species at 

 Barrackpore (P. Z. S. 1865, p. 695). 



At Mahasoo, near Simla, on the 29th Sept. 1866, I captured 

 a fine pair in a clap-net. They were the first I had observed 

 that season, and their dimensions were as follows : — 



Both of these were in the grey or winter plumage. 



It is curious to observe with what regularity this species ap- 



