NOTES. 457 



niensis, which I have had good opportunities of observing in the 

 Dinapore district, is quite a distinct species. Both it and 

 M. Hodgsoni are common there, and the two in winter dress are 

 widely different. In luzoniensis the white extends down the side 

 of the neck in winter dress, much as in M. dukhunensis, and is 

 never small and of the diamond shape of the white eye patch of 

 M. Hodgsoni. Then again old examples of M. luzoniensis retain 

 more or less black on the back, while those of M. Hodgsoni 

 resume pure grey backs in winter. Another notable point of 

 difference is the voice ; that of luzoniensis being soft and more 

 musical than those of the two north-west species. M. luzoniensis 

 may be described as being like M. dukhunensis, but with black 

 back and white chin and throat. 



ci As far as I can see at present, it appears very likely that 

 M. lugens, M. Hodgsoni, and perhaps M. lugubris too may be^the 

 same bird, but I have not seen any good drawing of the latter. 

 Any one looking at my series of winter examples of M. Hodg- 

 soni (personata) and M. luzoniensis would never dream of con- 

 founding the two. 



" In winter young examples of M. dukhunensis are very diffi- 

 cult to distinguish from those of similar age of M. luzoniensis, 

 and we can only make sure of a young bird being luzoniensis 

 when it shows a superior amount of white in the wing-coverts. 

 Mature luzoniensis like mature Hodgsoni shows the greater 

 coverts when the wing is closed as an entire patch of white. 



" M. dukhunensis appears to be a more northern bird than 

 M. Hodgsoni, and I did not see it breeding in Cashmere. 



u I have long intended cancelling my supposed species 

 M. cashmerensis, but if the present note is published, it will 

 answer the purpose." 



I am unable as yet myself to concur in these views, but I 

 shall hope to take the Black and Grey Wagtails up again before 

 long, and reconsider the question in the light of the enormous 

 series of specimens now at my command. 



Mr. J. R. Cripps very kindly sends me specimens of the 

 Kyah (Ortygornis gularis) and the Yellow-billed Finch-Thrush, 

 (Paradoxernis jiavirostris) , shot on the banks of the Kooshiara 

 river, below Inayetgunj, Sylhet. This Finch-Thrush is com- 

 paratively rare in the Sikhim Terai, and Jerdon talks of it as 

 a free bird; but as far as my knowledge of the other two 

 species (P. gularis and vuficeps) goes, they are more of reed 

 birds, and Mr. Cripps remarks of the present species: — " Jerdon 



Q 



