620 BUDYTES VIE1DIS. 



In Egypt it remains, according to Captain Shelley, throughout the year, and is there the most abundant 

 of the Yellow Wagtails. It is found in North-western Africa, likewise inhabiting, says Col. Irby, both sides 

 of the Straits of Gibraltar in great abundance. It arrives on the north side about the 20th of April, and leaves 

 again in August and September. Mr. Saunders procured it in Southern Spain, and it is also found in Malta 

 and Corfu. It inhabits Germany, and is common in Scandinavia, Lapland, and Finland ; according to 

 Sundevall it has been found as far north as Hammerfcst. There has been no evidence, as yet, of its having 

 occurred in England, although its near ally (B.flava) has many times been procured there. This latter species 

 has been recorded from Transvaal and Damara Land, but the present bird has likewise occurred in South 

 Africa, for I have seen a specimen in Mr. Seebohm's collection, procured by Mr. Andersson, which cannot be 

 separated from unmistakable Ceylon examples of B. viridis. 



I omitted to remark above that it visits Borneo, where it has been obtained in several localities, and in 

 Sarawak has been shot as early as the 10th October. Horsfield records it from Java, Wallace from Moluccas, 

 and Lord Tweeddale from Celebes ; Gray notes it from Timor. 



Habits. — This species frequents open lands covered with short grass, pasture-grounds, newly-ploughed 

 paddy-fields, bare pasture, and so forth, resorting, whenever it can, to the vicinity of cattle, round which it 

 congregates in little troops of three or four to catch the flies which torment oxen to such a degree in hot 

 climates. Hundreds of these Wagtails are always to be seen in the season on the Galle face, Colombo, running 

 tn and fro, and darting along the ground in quest of food; little flocks of them associate in scattered company, 

 and some are seen trooping across the road, or running along the curb-stone of the promenade, while others 

 take up an elevated position on fragments of cattle-ordure, and plume their sober attire, making up, together 

 with our Titlarks and Dotterels (which latter are generally to be found there after a heavy night's rain), quite 

 an animated picture of bird-life. They are restless birds, constantly on the wing ; but their flight is not so 

 darting nor so undulating in character as that of the more graceful Motacilla melanope. They roost in long 

 grass, resorting from far and wide to some chosen ground just before sunset, and starting back to their haunts 

 in large flocks on the following morning. It was for years a matter of conjecture with me as to where all the 

 Wagtails and Pipits which frequent the " Galle face " went at night ; some time before sunset they became 

 restless, and I used to observe that one by one they would take a longer flight than usual, and then mounting 

 in the air, would fly off in the direction of the Pettah. About six, or a little before, the next morning they 

 were to be seen returning in twos and threes, flying over the fort and making direct for the Galle face. It was 

 not until shortly before I left Ceylon that I saw, on several occasions, great numbers of these birds coming from 

 the south and settling down in the Mutturajawella swamp just before sunset; and I therefore conclude that 

 these birds came from the environs of Colombo, as well as from other grass-lands in the neighbourhood. 

 This Wagtail, to a great extent, catches its prey, consisting of small flies, while they are flying, darting at 

 them very quickly from its terrestrial perch ; it also picks up small terrestrial insects. 



This species and its allies, in their non-aquatic habits, as well as in the structure of the leg and foot, show 

 their affinity to the Pipits. In Ceylon I have never seen it near water ; large flocks may be observed in the 

 interior collected in newly-ploughed paddy-fields, where they procure a good supply of food from the upturned 

 soil. In their breeding-haunts they would appear to resort to moist or marshy places. At Gibraltar Col. Irby 

 -ays it keeps to marshes, nesting in the vicinity of water in grass and herbage and sometimes among sedges. 



Nidification. — Our Indian birds, which breed in Siberia, would appear to nest in June or July ; for 

 Mr. Seebohm's nestlings, which he procured at the Yenesay on the 8th of August, were scarcely full-grown. 

 In Southern Spain, according to Col. Irby, it lays at the end of April; but I am unable to give particulars 

 concerning its nest and eggs. 



