147 



INSECTIVOEJE. 



Family MO TA GILLIDJE. 



Genus Motacilla. f Latham. J 



BLACK-HEADED YELLOW 

 WAGTAIL. 



Motacilla flava, (Lin.,) Var. Melanocephala. 



Motacilla melanocepJiala, Boxapaete ; Icon. d. Faun. Ital. 



pi. 31, fig. 3. 



" " Degland. Lichtenstein. 



" " Dubois. 



" Jlava-melanocepliala, Schlegel; Eevue. 



" viridis, Gmelin. Scopoli. Hodgsojt. 



Budytes melanocepJiala, Meneteies. 

 Bergeronette, or Hochqueue 



a fete Noire, Oe the Feench. 



Scliioarzkopfige gelhe scJiafstelze, Op the GtEbmans. 



Specific Cliaracters. — Top of tlie Lead and clieeks a deep 

 black; beak black; tbroat white. Length about six inches. 



This so-called species was described and figured by 

 Prince Charles Bonaparte, in tlie "Fauna Italica/' pi. 

 31. Its claims to specific distinction liave, bowever, 

 been doubted by Temminck and otbers, ]Mr. Tristram 

 Avrites me word that he has seen every gradation of 



