1872.] 
59 
W. T. Blanford — Zoology of Sikkim. 
Motacillida. 
MotACQLA Hodgsohi, G. B. Gray, Ibis, 1865, p. 49. ? M. lugubris 
Pall. ? M. Cashmiriensis, Brooks. 
I am rather surprised to find that all the Motacilla; shot in Up- 
per Sikkim are of a species distinct from any found in the plains of 
India. I can scarcely have any doubt but that they belong to M. 
Hodgsoni of Gray, although it is probable that skins upon which that 
species was founded represent the winter, or at least the autumn plumage. 
I have two specimens agreeing well with Mr. Blyth’s very brief account in 
the Ibis, having very little of the throat white and a distinct black line from 
the gape below the eye, but from the appearance of the chin and fiom 
another specimen in which the change to winter plumage has not proceeded 
so far, it is evident that in full summer garb the whole throat and chin are 
black, just as in personata, from which this form is chiefly distinguished 
by its black back in the breeding season, and its rather longer bill. I will 
give a somewhat more complete description of the summer and winter 
plumage of this bird. 
Summer. — Forehead and forepart of crown and superciliary stripe, a 
large wing patch formed of the secondary, greater and medium coverts, 
narrow edges and tips to the primary quills and broad ones to the seconda- 
ries, two outer tail feathers, frequently but not always with the exception of 
the inner edges of the inner of the two or of both, and lowci paits from 
the breast white, the rest of the plumage black. Perhaps the extreme chm 
and a narrow stripe running back from each side of the base ol the lower 
mandible may remain white, but I suspect not. 
In winter plumage, the bird appears scarcely to differ from M. Luzonien- 
sis. In a specimen shot on October 4th, there is still a broader gorget on the 
breast than in that species, but otherwise there is no difference. The whole 
face is white, the moustachial. stripe having vanished. The back is grey, 
hinder part of crown and nape black, wings and tail feathers as m summer 
plumage, except that the wing patch is not quite so pure a w e - 10 
flanks are greyish. It is possible that this may be an examp e o Jl 
Luzoniensis, but I think not. All these species of wagtail are nearly 
undistinguishable in whiter dress. 
The intermediate plumage, which I suppose to be that on which the 
species was founded, has the face white, except a line from the gape below 
i-i ...i + v„. Dar coverts. The dimensions are 
Wing. 
1 3-7 
2 3-7 
3 345 
4 winter plumage 3 '7 
Tail. 
Tarsus. 
Bill from forehead. 
Bill from \ 
3-65 
1 
0-57 
0*72 
3-5 
096 
0*52 
0-72 
3-45 
0-9 
0-53 
0-7 
37 
0'97 
0-5 
07 
gape. 
