MOTACILLA. 297 



but from no point further east. This species is found on the lower 

 ranges of the Himalayas in winter and it extends at that season to 

 Afghanistan. It passes through Kashmir on migration and sum- 

 mers in Central Asia and Southern Siberia, but does not apparently 

 extend so far north at this season as to meet with M.flava. 



836. Motacilla feldeggi. TJte Black-headed Wagtail. 



Motacilla melanocephala, Licit. Vcrz. Doubt, p. 36 (1823), nee 



Gmetin. 

 Motacilla feldeggi, Michah., Isis, 1830, p. 814; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. 



x, p. 527, pi. viii, figs. 1-4. 

 Budytes melanocephala (Sykes), Blyth, Cat. p. 138 ; Horsf. fy M. 



Cat. i, p. 351. 

 Budytes melanocephala (Bonap.}, Brooks, J. A. S. B. xliii, pt. ii, 



p. 248. 

 Budytes melanocephala (Licht.}, Hume, Cat. no. 593 bis ; Barnes, 



Birds Bom. p. 239. 



Coloration. Kesernbles M. borcalis in general style of coloration, 

 but in summer plumage and in both sexes the forehead, crown, 

 nape, hind neck, lores, cheeks, and ear-coverts are deep black. The 

 chin and a band below the cheek are usually, but not always, 

 white. There is occasionally a slight trace of a white superci- 

 liurn. 



In winter plumage the two species are very much alike, but the 

 crown in M.fddeycji is generally concolorous with the back and 

 not bluish grey, and in the male there is always a certain duski- 

 ness about the coronal region, and not un frequently a few black 

 feathers which suffice to indicate the species. 



The young of both species appear to resemble each other closely, 

 but it appears that in M. feldeggi there is seldom or never a well- 

 marked supercilium as in the young of M. borcalis, M.flava, and 

 M. beema. 



The dimensions and colours of the soft parts are the same as in 

 M. borealis. 



Owing to Lichtenstein having bestowed on this bird a name 

 previously given by Gmelin to a very different species it seems 

 advisable to follow Sharpe and discard the term melanocephala, not- 

 withstanding that Gmelin's name has been shown to be applicable 

 to Sylvia melanocephala. The greatest confusion has prevailed 

 regarding these Yellow Wagtails and the adoption of an unused 

 name, from which a new start may be taken for any one "Wagtail, 

 is to be hailed with satisfaction. 



Distribution. A winter visitor to the plains of India as far south 

 as Belgaum, and east to Benares. This species passes through 

 Kashmir on migration and summers in Central Asia. It extends 

 to Southern Europe and North-east Africa. 



M. ctttHjH-Kti'Is, Pall. (Budytes rayi, auct.), has been recorded 

 doubtfully from India, but I cannot find any trustworthy instance 

 of its occurrence within Indian limits and I accordingly exclude it. 



