THE BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL. 193 



outermost pair mostly white with only inner edge of basal two- 

 thirds of inner web black-brown, next (penultimate) pair sometimes 

 with almost as much white as outer pair but usually with basal 

 quarter of inner web and much of shaft black-brown, as well as a 

 wider margin on inner web ; wing-feathers dark brown, edged 

 yellowish- or buffish-white on outer, and greyish-white on inner 

 webs ; innermost secondaries, greater and median wing-coverts 

 same but more broadly edged and tipped ; lesser coverts with 

 more greenish tips. This plumage is acquired by complete moult 

 in Aug. -Sept. N.B. In this plumage differs from M. f. rayi 

 by its greyer fore-head, whiter superciliary stripe, white on chin, 

 usually brighter yellow of throat, and more distinct dark marks 

 on upper-breast. Summer. All the body -feathers, most lesser 

 and median wing-coverts, many inner greater coverts and usually 

 innermost secondaries and central tail-feathers are moulted Jan. 

 to April, but not primary-coverts nor rest of wing- and tail-feathers. 

 (N.B. Exceptionally whole tail moults. Extent of moult of 

 wing-coverts and inner secondaries varies individually.) Fore- 

 head, crown, nape, and back of neck uniform blue-grey (often a 

 few green feathers on crown) ; rest of upper-parts yellowish -green 

 when freshly moulted, becoming browner with wear ; line from 

 nostrils, over and behind eye white ; lores, under eye and ear- 

 coverts like crown but darker and marked white ; chin with varying 

 amount of white sometimes only at angle of mandibles and some- 

 times extending some way down throat ; rest of under-parts bright 

 yellow, flanks greenish and a patch of yellowish-green on each 

 side of upper-breast and usually some feathers of upper-breast 

 marked dark green ; new wing-coverts edged and tipped more 

 greenish -yellow than in winter. N.B. In this plumage at once 

 distinguished from M . f. rayi by its blue crown and white eye-stripe. 



Adult female. Winter. Upper-parts resembling adult male ; 

 eye-stripe usually more tinged yellow ; chin, throat and upper- 

 breast paler and more buffish, often very pale buff only tinged 

 yellow with dark markings rather more prominent ; rest of under- 

 parts paler yellow than male. N.B. In this plumage often 

 difficult to distinguish from M . f. rayi, but crown generally greyer 

 not so brown and chin either yellower or more white and less buff. 

 Summer. Moult as male. Top of head more brownish, not so 

 pure a blue-grey as male ; mantle rather browner ; eye-stripe 

 and chin become whiter and throat and breast yellower than 

 winter, but tinged buff and not so bright as in adult male and 

 spots on upper-breast especially at sides more prominent than 

 in male. N.B. In this plumage crown is greyer and eye-stripe 

 and chin whiter than in M. f. rayi. 



Nestling. Down buff, fairly long and plentiful ; distribution, 

 outer and inner supra-orbital, occipital, spinal, humeral and ulnar. 

 Mouth, inside orange, two brown spots at base of tongue ; externally 

 gape-flanges pale yellow. 



