262 MOTACILLIDJE MOTACILLA 



yellow ; tail-feathers dusky brown, the two outer pairs white edged 

 internally with dusky brown ; least wing - coverts olive - brown ; 

 middle coverts dusky brown tipped with yellowish ; greater coverts 

 brownish-black edged with light brown and tipped with white ; 

 quills brown tinged with yellow and edged with grey ; crown and 

 nape blue-grey ; eyebrow, cheeks and chin white ; lores black ; 

 ear-coverts dark grey ; under surface of body bright yellow ; 

 axillaries and under wing-coverts white tinged with yellow. 



Iris hazel ; bill, legs and feet black. 



Length in flesh 6*75; wing 3-10; tail 2-90; tarsus 0-80; 

 culmen O50. 



Adult female. Not as bright as the male; the back and wing- 

 coverts shaded with brown ; below much paler yellow. 



Young. Above, brownish, the head like the back ; eyebrow pale 

 buff; below, throat white; rest of under surface white tinged with 

 brown on the chest and slightly mottled with dusky; axillaries 

 olive-yellow ; under wing-coverts yellowish-white. 



Distribution. Breeds throughout the greater part of Europe, 

 Northern Asia and Alaska : migrates during the northern winter to 

 Africa, where it ranges as far south as Damara Land, the Transvaal 

 and Natal : it is also found in Southern Asia and the Moluccas. 



Habits. In all its habits this species closely resembles M. 

 campestris. It feeds on various small insects and their larvae, also 

 upon minute water molluscs, hence it is fond of haunting marshy 

 ground bordering on lakes and rivers. It is a frequent attendant on 

 cattle, for the sake of the flies that hover round these animals. Its 

 flight is in a series of undulating curves. It frequently utters a 

 sharp " chirrup." The nest is built on the ground among grass, 

 or under cover of a weed, and frequently in swampy localities. 

 It is formed of rootlets, dry grass, and moss, lined with hairs. 

 The eggs, four to six in number, resemble those of M . rayi. 



In the Transvaal, Ayres writes, " This Wagtail appears in spring 

 in considerable numbers, and leaves again about the latter end of 

 April ; they do not appear to rest here, neither are they in good 

 plumage; the best plumaged birds are to be got just. as they are 

 leaving. During their stay here they are common on our market- 

 square (at Potchefstroom) early every morning, where they find 

 abundant food amongst the short grass and the cow-dung, which 

 attracts many insects, on which they are often seen feeding in 

 company with Motacilla capensis." 



In Damara Land this species is said by Andersson to appear 

 only in or about the rainy season. 



