224 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



to inhabit N. Africa, South-eastern Europe, and Western Asia. 

 When, with the grey head, a white supercilium be present, I do 

 not see how it can be discriminated from flava, but the ear- 

 coverts and lores always appear to be a little darker. Is it possible 

 that those found in India with the white eyebrow may be hybrids 

 between it and flava? or, have we individuals of flava mingling 

 with the majority of viridist From cinereo-capilla it is distinguished 

 only by the throat being yellow instead of white. In spite of 

 these very close resemblances, we must consider it a distinct race, 

 as none of the other recognized species are recorded to assume a 

 black cap whilst breeding ; and it lias only been observed in Europe, 

 in the southern and eastern parts thereof-* I think it quite possi- 

 ble that all the individuals of viridis may not assume the black head 

 the first year, at all events, which would account for its being con- 

 sidered so much rarer than the allied species. Birds in winter plu- 

 mage of viridis, cinereo-capilla and flava appear to differ but little. 

 Of tire range of viridis in Central or Northern Asia, we have 

 no records. Pallas describes fiava, apparently, as the common ' 

 species of Northern and Central Asia ; and Swinhoe gives flava 

 as the common Chinese species. In this case our bird winters in 

 Afiica and India, and breeds in South-Eastern Europe, probably 

 also in Western and perhaps the more Southern parts of Central 

 Asia. M. Malherbe asserts that melanocephala does not nestle in 

 Sicily, nor in Tuscany, though cinereo-capilla does. 



In India this Wagtail comes in towards the end of September, 

 and does not quit the North of India till the end of April, or 

 beginning of May. It is an exceedingly abundant bird in every 

 part of India, usually associating in considerable flocks, and feeding 

 among cattle, picking up the insects disturbed by their feet whilst 

 grazing. They also frequent damp meadow ground near rivers or 

 tanks, grain fields, where they may often be put up along with the 

 so called Ortolan ( Calandrella brachydaciyla) during the heat of the 

 day ; and, late in the season, they may always be seen taking 



* But what are we to say of B. nijracapUla, Bonap., found in the same localities as 

 Jiava ? Do old birds of JIava ever assume a black cap, or are these iudividuals hybrids 

 with viridis ? 



