1S40.] of the Peninsula of India. 9 



Sub Family MOTACILLINiE.— Wagtails. 



Gen. BUDYTES, Cuv. 



134. — B. ciireola. — Yellow headed Wagtail. 



This species is occasionally met with in most parts of India, during 

 the cold season, but is not nearly so abundant as the next species. I 

 have seen it on the banks of rivers, and also in wet paddy-fields. 



135. — B. neglecta, Gould. — B. Bcema, Sykes. — B.Jlava, of Continen- 

 tal authors. — Peelkya, H. — Yellow Wagtail. 



The B- Beema of Sykes, appears to be identical with the species 

 from the continent of Europe, lately pointed out by Gould, as differing 

 from the B.Jlava of Britain. 



The Peelkya is an extremely common bird in all parts of India, dining 

 the cold weather, remaining till April. It associates together occasi- 

 onally in large flocks, frequenting damp spots of ground near tanks, and 

 marshy places, but also the grain-fields, and dry plains, feeding among 

 cattle. Single birds, however, or two or three together, are not un- 

 commonly seen about houses, and in gardens, sometimes perching on 

 trees, or the top of a house, or wall. It feeds on various minute insects 

 and their larvae. 



136. — B. melanocephala, Sykes. — Black headed Wagtail. 



I am very doubtful if this is a distinct species from the last. It is 

 generally found in company with it, and I have seen many specimens 

 during the moulting, when there were only a[few feathers on the head, 

 that had assumed the black. I have a specimen with the head of a lead 

 colour, and a stripe from the angle of the mouth to the ears only black, 

 without any superciliary stripe. This is probably the female, whether 

 it Be a distinct species, or only the winter plumage of the last. Habits 

 and food, same as the last. 



136. — bis. — B. Jlava, Ray, Gould.— Yellow Wagtail of British au- 

 thors. 



