THE FOREST-WAGTAIL. 
165 
across the breast^ tlie upper one entire^ the lower one broken in the middle ; 
median and greater wing-coverts dark brown, with broad yellowish-white 
tips forming two bands across the coverts ; quills brown_, the second to the 
seventh primaries with a patch of yellowish white on the outer webs near 
their bases ; all the primaries and secondaries with an abrupt margin of 
yellowish white near their tips on the outer webs ; tertiaries brown, broadly 
tipped with olive-green ; central tail-feathers similar to the back ; the next 
three pairs dark brown ; the next pair brown with a large white tip, and 
the outer pair all white, except at their base, where they are brown. 
Irides nearly black; upper mandible dusky brown, lower mandible 
fleshy white; legs and feet purplish white; claws horny white. {Arm- 
strong.) 
Length 6-3 inches, tail 2'7, wing 3*1, tarsus '85, bill from gape '75, hind 
toe and claw '6. The female appears to be of the same size. 
This Wagtail does not appear to have any seasonal change of plumage, 
and it is doubtful whether it is wholly or partially migratory, or whether 
it is a resident species. I have met with it so seldom in Burmah that I 
cannot state with certainty whether it is only a winter visitor or not. 
Capt. Bingham inclines to the belief that it is a permanent resident in 
Tenasserim. 
The Forest- Wagtail must be considered rather an uncommon bird in 
Pegu. I have only met with it once or twice in this Division, and Dr. 
Armstrong saw only one specimen in the Irrawaddy Delta. Mr. Blyth 
states that it occurs in Arrakan. Mr. Davison seems to have found it 
tolerably abundant in Tenasserim throughout the whole Division, and my 
men brought me two specimens from Malewoon. Capt. Bingham observed 
it in the Thoungyeen valley. 
It occurs in China, Cochin China, the Malay peninsula, Sumatra and 
Borneo. It is also found over nearly the whole peninsula of India and 
in Ceylon. In summer, M. Tacsanowski informs me^ it is very common 
in the Amoor and Ussuri in Eastern Siberia. 
This Wagtail is fond of well-wooded localities and forests, and is not 
often found in the bare plains. It is generally seen singly tripping along 
a forest-path or on the banks of a stream. When disturbed it flies into a 
tree, and it has the habit of shaking its tail in the manner of the Wagtails. 
Nothing seems to be known about its nidification. 
