605 MOTACILLA MADERA SPATES SIS. 



Female in breeding-plumage has the distribution of the colours the same, but the black of the upper surface less 

 pure. 



Nonbreeding-plumage. The chin and face just beneath the eye and the gorge are white ; upper surface not so intense 

 a black as the breeding-dress. An example shot by Mr. Adam at the Sambhur Lake in August is in this plumage ; 

 it must have bred early in the year and changed at once. 



Obs. This Wagtail, which carries off the palm as regards size among all the pied group, resembles somewhat the 

 common "Water- Wagtail of England, M. lugubris, in summer plumage, the latter differing in the large amount of 

 white which encompasses the forehead, whole face, and ear-coverts, and the less intense black of the upper surface, 

 with a proportionate paleness of the wing. It is a much smaller bird, the wings of those I have examined 

 varying from 3 - 3 to 3 - 6 inches. 



In most species of this group the forehead is white. The black forehead in the Indian species has a parallel in tin- 

 fine African Wagtail, M. vidua, in which also the colour of the crown extends down in a point to the base of 

 the bill. 



Distribution. — This, the largest of the four Indian Wagtails, appears to be only a straggler to Ceylon in 

 the cool season, there having been but one example recorded in the island. This is mentioned by Layard 



loc. cit.), who remarks that he detected a single specimen in a collection of birds formed by Mr. Gisburne, C.C.S., 

 in the Jaffna peninsula, the exact locality from which it came being supposed to be the island of Valenny. 

 It may perhaps be a regular visitant to the extreme north of the island; but this is, I think, doubtful, as if 

 so it would have been otherwise recorded from districts south of the Jaffna Lake. 



This Wagtail has a wide but local distribution throughout India. It is found in suitable localities in 

 various parts of the peninsula, and in both the east and west of continental India. It occurs in the south, for 

 Jerdon remarks : — " It is found throughout the whole of India . . . but it does not appear to extend to the 

 east of the Bay of Bengal. It also occurs within the Himalayas, for I found it at Sikhiin." Messrs. Davison 

 and Carter record it from the Nilghiris and the Cauvery river. " In the Deccan it is common and breeds " 



Davidson) ; and Dr. Pairbank writes that it affects the rivers in the Khandala and Mahableshwar districts. 

 Mr. Aitkcn writes of it at Poona, and the Rev. H. Bruce at Ahnicdnuggur. Mr. Ball, on the eastern side of 

 peninsula, records it from " Sambalpur, north of Mahanadi, Godaveri valley, Singhbhum, Lohardugga, 

 .Maunbhum, and the Rajmehal hills," and he considers it, with regard to the whole division of Chota Nagpur, 

 to be one of the birds most commonly met with on its rivers. Captain Beavan found it rare in Singhbhum, 

 only meeting with it on the Cossye river. Across the Central-Indian districts it is noted from various places, 

 such as Agra, Etawah, Futtcghur, the great river-system of this well-watered portion of India affording it 

 abundant localities suitable to its tastes. From Sambhur Mr. Adam records it common about all the open 

 wells and tanks ; but at Mount Aboo it is, according to Capt. Butler, not very plentiful ; he observed it there 

 about the lake, and occasionally in the plains round the edges of tanks, river-beds, &c. It is a resident 

 species in the sub-Himalayan region. Mr. Brooks records it from Mussouri, and says that he also obtained it 

 in Cashmere, while beyond the great Himalayan range it was found breeding by Severtzoff in Turkestan. 



Habits. — This fine species is essentially a water Wagtail, being rarely found away from water, and 

 frequents the banks of rivers, ponds, tanks, wells, brooks, &c. I observe that it is said, like other members 

 oi its group, to have a partiality for that seemingly eccentric situation the roof of a house, on which it often 

 perches when opportunity offers ; and I have no doubt that, like its congeners, it would also seat itself on a 

 telegraph-wire. Captain Butler, who noticed its habits at Mount Aboo, remarks that " it delights in a large 

 rock standing out by itself in the water at some distance from the shore to settle and run about upon. In 

 the absence of a rock, an old stump suits its habits and answers the purpose equally well." It is very active in 

 its motions and possesses all the grace of deportment which so remarkably distinguishes the whole of this 

 interesting group of birds. It feeds on insects, at which it darts, adroitly seizing them, and has been observed 

 to catch as large prey as a dragonfly with which to feed its young. Jerdon states that it has a sweet song 

 in the breeding-season. 



