112 BIRDS OF DAM ABA LAND. 



spots of pale brown, especially towards the larger end ; 

 but the eggs, even when from the same nest, are subject 

 to some differences, both as regards colour and size. 

 The iris in this species is brown. 



138. Motacilla Vaillantii, Cab. Levaillant's Wagtail. 



L'Aguimp, Levaillant's Ois. d'Afr. pi. 178. 



Motacilla aguimp, Layard's Cat. No. 221. 



Motacilla Vaillantii, Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 3572. 



I have only observed this Wagtail on the borders of 

 the Orange River, where it is not uncommon. It is 

 generally to be seen either singly or in pairs, and usually 

 settles on stones or on the ground, along which it runs 

 with great celerity in pursuit of small insects, which 

 constitute its chief food ; and it also skims the surface of 

 the water for the same purpose. 



139. Budytes flava (Linn.). Blue-headed YeUow Wagtail. 



Motacilla neglecta, Gould's Birds of Europe, pi. 146. 

 Motacilla fiava, Layard, in Ibis, 1869, p. 73. 

 Budytes fiavus, Malmgren, in Ibis, 1869, p. 230. 

 Budytes fiava, Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 3578. 

 MotaeiUafiava, Finscb & Hartlaub's Vbgel Ost-Afrika's, p. 268. 



„ „ Finscb, in Trans, of Zool. Soc. vol. vii. p. 239. 



Budytes fiava, Sbarpe's Cat. No. 702. 

 „ „ Ayres, in Ibis, 1871, p. 154. 



I had been fifteen years in Damara Land before I 

 became aware of the existence of this Wagtail, which 

 I first observed at Objimbinque in 1865, when I ob- 

 tained a few specimens, nearly all of which were imma- 

 ture. It is a migratory bird, and appears only in or 

 about the rainy season. 



