Birds of Celebes: MotacilHdae. 53 1 



1888, 271), C. nigrorum Moseley from the Philippines (Ibis 1891, 47, pi. II; 

 1894, 506), C. vordermani Biittik. from East Java (Notes Leyden Mus. 1893, XV, 

 260), and C. flavigularis Bourns & Wore, from Cebu (Minnesota Ac. N. Sc. 

 1894 I, 1, 23). The genus is found in Africa and the Oriental Region as far 

 as Celebes. The South Celebes species seems to be most nearly related to 

 C. trivirgata (Striokl.) of Java, Bali and Lombok; the latter has not got the 

 two white lateral rectrices, is chiefly ochraceous yellow below, and has the 

 lateral stripes on the head blackish. Black side-stripes on the head and a 

 bright yellow belly should serve to distinguish the Indian C. burki (Burton) 

 which has the two lateral rectrices white for the greater part. 



The Indian species build domed, globular nests and lay white eggs. 

 Mr. Oates remarks that they are not known to have any song. 



FAMILY MOTACILLIDAE. 



The Wagtails and Pipits form a well characterized group of small birds. 

 They seek their food on the ground, or in shallow water, or spring up on the 

 wing to catch it in the air; they never hop on the ground, but walk or run; they 

 avoid the forest and dense underwood, and are to be looked for in more open 

 situations, or on the plain or the strand. They are best distinguished by the 

 wing of niue primaries, with the innermost secondaries or "tertiaries" much 

 longer than the ordinary secondaries, so forming a forked wing; tarsus long, 

 bare, scutellate in front, with an entire lamina behind; the hind claw in the 

 terrestrial species very long; bill as long as head or less, slender, straight, scarcely 

 notched, with very small and inconspicuous rictal bristles. 



GENUS MOTACILLA L. 



The Wagtails differ from the Pipits by having their upper plumage uniform, 

 not streaked or mottled, and black or blackish legs. They are noisy, active birds, 

 more or less sociable, migratory. They run very much on the ground, often 

 moving the tail up and down — whence the name. An Old World family, 

 known also from the North-west of N. America. 



-f 220. MOTACILLA FLAVA L. 



Blue-headed Wagtail. 



Motacilla flava (1) Linn., S. N. 1760, I, 331; (II) Naum., Vog. Deutschl. m, 839, t. 88 

 (1823); (3) Meyen, Act. Ac. Oaes. Leopold. 1834, XVI, 80; (4) id., Reise urn d. 

 Erde 1835, H, 195; (V) Gould, B. Eur. 1837, n, pi. 145; (VI) Keulemans, Onze 

 Vog. 1869, I, pi. 26; (7) Finsch & Conrad, Verb. z.-b. Ges. Wien 1872, (2); (VIII) 

 Dresser, B.Eur. 1875, III, 261, pi. 129, f. 1, 2; (9) Briigg., Abh. Ver. Bremen 

 1876, V, 67; (10) Rosenb., Malay. Arcliip. 1878, 272; (XI) Sharpe, Cat. B. X, 



67* 



