248 NOTES UPON A COLLECTION OF BIRDS MADE 



5. M. Hodgsoni, Sikbinr, April. In fine summer plumage with 

 the black advanced to within a sixteenth of an inch of the base 

 of lower mandible, i.e., a small spot of white on the portion of 

 the chin nearest the bill ; below the very narrow black line, 

 which is principally an effect produced by the black continuation 

 of the bill, is a short narrow strip of white. I suppose this is what 

 some ornithologists call the " moustache ;" but a moustache on 

 the lower lip would be an anomaly. 



M. Hodgsoni, " Sikhim, May," is just like the above bird with 

 a very narrow white "moustache," rather longer than in the 

 April bird. The spot of white on the point of the chin is about 

 the size of a pin's head. 



M. Hodgsoni <J, Gangaotri, 18th May. A trace of the 

 white moustache on one side only ; on the other side it is 

 vanished : chin and throat pure black. 



M. Hodgsoni (J, near Suki, 12th May. No moustache; chin, 

 throat, and breast, all pure black. 



M. Hodgsoni $ } Derali, 19th May. Only two white specks 

 of moustache left on one side ; chin black. 



M. Hodgsoni #, Derali, 20th May. No moustache ; chin, 

 &c, black. 



M. Hodgsoni cf, between Suki and Derali, 21st May. A 

 faint trace of the moustache on one side only ; chin, &c, quite 

 black. 



It will thus be seen that with the disappearance of the white 

 moustache the black line from the corner of the bill also becomes 

 included in the lower black of chin, throat, and breast, and 

 that this white line below the bill is not a constant character- 

 istic of the species.* 



M. luzoniensis, Scop. I now place before me seven black- 

 backed examples of this species procured in Sikhim and in the 

 plains, the latter by myself, the former by Mr. Mandelli. 



No. 1, Sikhim, Sept. No moustache nor stripe, either black 

 or white from corner of mouth : from the forehead, right down to 

 the black crescent on breast, all is pure white ; the white feathers 

 about the bill are fuller than in the other bird, and conceal Us 

 gape more. 



No. 2, Sikhim, Oct., exactly like No. 1. 



No. 3, Dinapore J 1 , 20th Nov., exactly the same. 



No. 4, Dinapore $ , 16th Dec, exactly the same ; a pure 

 " White-faced Wagtail: 3 



No. 5, Patna £, 9th Feb. The same ; the black crescent in 

 this one is very narrow, being only one-third of an inch broad 

 in the centre. 



No. 6, Patna, 9th Feb. Identical with the last, but gorget 

 on breast half an inch broad. 



* This is certain, and was pointed out, Vol, I., p. 28. — JE». 



