274 MR. R. SWINHOE ON THE BIRDS OF CHINA. [June 23, 



81. BuDYTES FLAVA, L. 



B. cinereocapilla, Savi. 



Our Amoy and South-China bird mouks in summer into the true 

 European B. fiava, with grey head and cheeks, white eyebrow and 

 chin. Those received from Tientsin (North China) in nuptial dress 

 have the entire head grey, and are almost undistinguishable from B. 

 cinereocapilla. B. ci7iereocapillavias procured in October at Canton 

 by Captain Blakiston. The Formosan variety retains the head green, 

 with a yellow eye-streak, as the B. rayi of Great Britain, but differs 

 in having dark olive cheeks. According to von Schrenck, in Amoor- 

 land the true B. fiava occurs, and not the grey-headed B. cinereo- 

 capilla. In the Malayan Archipelago, I am told, the green-headed 

 variety occurs, but with dark, almost black cheeks ; and I suspect 

 that the true British form, with yellow cheek-spot, will turn up at 

 Japan, at which most of the European birds that extend to East 

 Asia undergo a similar change in plumage to what takes place in 

 British forms as compared with those of Europe. I would draw 

 attention to the fact that the Japanese climate is affected by the 

 Pacific Gulf-stream in a manner corresponding to the influence 

 exercised over the British Islands by Maury's " River in the Ocean ;" 

 and doubtless the similarity of climate so caused is at the root of this 

 similarity of variation. 



82. MoTAciLLA (Pallenura) boarula, L. 



M. {Qalohates) sulphur ea, Bechst. 

 M. melanope, Pall. 



Found throughout China and Formosa, the Amoor, and Japan. 

 Is more a vagatory than a migratory species, and is found at all 

 seasons in the south of China. 



83. Motacilla ltjzoniensis. Scop. 



M. alba, var. pd/mdoxa, von Schrenck. 

 M. leucopsis, Gould, P. Z. S, 1837, p. 78. 

 M. alboides, Hodgs. As. Res. xix. p. 190. 



This white-faced Pied Wagtail is a common species throughout 

 China and Formosa, extending into Amoorland. It is also found 

 throughout India and its archipelago, as far as the Philippines. The 

 young are yellowish olive-grey on the upper parts and breast, and 

 have the white of the body more or less washed with ochreous. The 

 male in summer plumage has the occiput and upper parts glossy 

 black, the black of the breast extending nearly to the chin. In 

 winter large flocks of this species visit South China from the north, 

 but a fair number spend the entire year with us. Cognate to M. 

 alba, but smaller, and with nmch whiter wings. 



84. MoTACiLLA LTJGUBRis, Temm. 



> 85. MoTACXLLA JAPONiCA, Swinhoe. 



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