292 MOTACILLID^:. 



webs ; tail dark brown, the two centre feathers shorter than the others, pale 

 brown and margined narrowly with pale olive ; the outermost feathers on each 

 side white, except a narrow margin on the inner web, which is brown ; the 

 next feather also white, with a dark shaft, and a wider brown margin on the 

 inner web. Bill dusky, yellowish at base of lower mandible ; irides brown ; 

 legs pale yellowish brown, 



Length. 6'$ to 7 inches ; wing 3 to 3*25 ; tail 2*5 ; tarsus I ; bill at front 0*4 



Hab- The whole of Southern Africa, extending up the eastern side of 

 that continent to N.-E. Africa, and occurring even in Egypt; also throughout 

 India and Ceylon, the Burmese countries and Malayan Peninsula, extending 

 to Java, Sumatra, Borneo and the Phillipines. (Sharped) In India it is found 

 in Sind, Punjab, N.-W. Provinces, Bengal, Assam, British Burmah and 

 Nepaul ; also Beloochistan, Afghanistan and Eastern Turkestan. Common in 

 the Concan and Deccan; breeds in Sind during April and May. Eggs 3 4, 

 of a greenish colour, with numerous brown mottlings all over, chiefly at the 

 larger end. It is one of the most common birds, and is abundantly spread 

 over all India, except the higher elevations. In Burmah as elsewhere it is 

 partial to open grass plains and dry paddy fields. 



804. Anthus cervinus (Pall), Naum. Vogt. Deutsclil, iii. pi. 85, 

 fig. I ; Gould, B. Asia, iv. p . 66; Hume, Ibis, 1871, p. 35 ; Ball, Str. F. 1873, 

 p. 74; Hume, t. c. p, 310; Hume, Sir. F. 1874, pp. 239, 479; Blyth and 

 Wald., B. Burm. p. 96; David and Oust., Ois Chine, p. 306; Hume and 

 Davison, Str. F. 1878, p. 367; Seebohm, Hist, Br. B. ii. p. 229; Oates, B. 

 Br. Burm, i, p. 169. Motacilla cervina, Pall,, Zoogr. Rosso, Asiat. i. p. 51 1. 

 The RED-THROATED PIPIT. 



Male in summer plumage. Whole upper surface of the body, including the 

 wing coverts and tertiaries dark brown, each feather edged with fulvous; 

 superciliary streak, cheeks, chin, throat and breast vinous pink, the breast and 

 sides of the breast streaked with brown ; lores and ear coverts vinous brown . 

 quills brown, narrowly edged with fulvous white ; tail dark brown, the outer- 

 most pair of feathers with a large diagonal streak of white, extending from the 

 base to the tip ; the next pair faintly tipped with white ; axillaries buff ; under 

 surface of the body pale rufescent, streaked on the flanks with brown ; under 

 tail coverts deeper rufescent. 



ThQ/emale in summer plumage is similar to the male, except that the throat 

 alone is vinous ; the rest of the under surface of the body from the foreneck 

 downwards being pale rufescent or sandy buff, the foreneck, breast and flanks 

 profusely spotted with blackish centres to the feathers, linear on the sides and 

 flanks. 



The winter plumage of both sexes is the same as the summer plumage of 

 the female, except that the vinous flush on the foreneck is absent in most birds, 

 and the throat is like the abdomen. Bill dusky above, yellowish beneath ; 

 irides brown. 



