MOTACILLINJE. 221 



in India, appearing about the end of September, and remaining 

 till the first week of May or so. It is spread throughout all India, 

 and Ceylon, but is most general in the hilly and wooded parts, 

 and rare in the open country, especially towards the south of India, 

 in the Carnatic and the bare table land ; being apparently more 

 abundant in Bengal and the North of India. 



It occasionally is to be seen on the banks of rivers, but is more 

 generally found in gardens, near houses, in towns and villages, 

 and on walks in the forests, or where there is sufficient shelter. 

 Mr. Blyth states that he has seen it " tripping over the filthiest 

 narrow black drains, between hut and hut, in the native town of 

 Calcutta." It occasionally, though rarely, perches on trees; 

 and it has the jerking motion of its tail more remarkably than 

 any other of the group, for it appears unable to keep it motionless 

 for a moment. 



This is the only recognised species of the genus ; but Bonaparte 

 has separated the bird from Java under the name of Pallenura 

 javensis ; Blyth, however, states that those which he has examined 

 from all parts of Asia, Africa, and Australia, were perfectly 

 identical. 



3rd. — Field Wagtails. 



Gen. Budttes, Cuvier. 



Char. — As in Moiacilla, but the tertials barely so long, the tail 

 shorter ; tarsus longer and stouter ; hind toe and claw lengthened, 

 the latter very much so, and but slightly curved. 



The Field Wagtails have the form of the Pipits, a long tarsus, and 

 a lono-, nearly straight, hind claw ; and they all have more or less 

 yellow on their under surface. They are found in fields and pasture 

 lands, often in large flocks attending cattle whilst grazing. They 

 are migratory, breeding in Northern countries, on the ground like 

 the Pipits ; and they are said to lay similarly coloured eggs. 

 Several species are known in the Old World, each apparently 

 inhabiting a particular zone of longitude, and migrating South- 

 wards in winter. They have no song like Molacilla, only a double 

 chirrup. 



There are, it is believed, only two species that visit India, 

 although the changes of plumage of one of them are so great, 



