MOTACILLA MELANOPB. 
613 
summer in Shetland, hut has not been met with in the Outer Hebrides, and is rare as a resident in Scotland 
north of Inverness {Newton in Yarrell) . In the winter there appears to be a movement from the south of 
Europe to North Africa. It is, according to Eavier, a winter visitor near Tangier, appearing in September 
and October, and departing in February and March. Captain Shelley writes that it is probably a winter 
visitor to Egypt, and observes that Dr. Adams met with it in Nubia. In the highlands of Abyssinia it also 
winters ; and Brehm says that it is resident at Mensa. How far south it goes on the west coast of Africa is not 
very clear; but Professor Newton has met with it in Madeira; and Mr. Godman (Ibis, 1866, p. 96) says that 
it is resident in the Azores, being common wherever there is water thronghout all the islands, and elsewhere 
(Ibis, 1873, p. 176) remarks that it is abundant in all three of the Atlantic archipelagos. 
Habits . — In Ceylon this elegant little bird frequents the banks of rivers, both sandy and rocky streams in 
the hills, the rivulets flowing through the “ Plains ” in the upper ranges, and even the roadside drains. It 
perches on the roofs of houses in the Kandy country, on stumps of trees and on rhododendron and other 
bushes, perpetually shaking or “ balancing ” its tail, and uttering its sweet little twittering note, which is 
very distinct from the louder and coarser cry of the Field- Wagtail. It is very tame in its disposition, getting 
up on being approached, and flying a little distance down the road or stream, and, if pursued, continues this for 
a long distance, turning round at the last and returning to wdiere it was first disturbed. Its flight is very- 
undulating, but it is, at the same time, swift, soon carrying the little bird out of sight when it is darting down 
the steep rocky streams of the Kandyan hills. 
To he seen to perfection it must be espied standing on its favourite haunt — an isolated rock amid some 
foaming torrent in the deep glens of the coffee-districts ; here it will rest for an instant under observation, but 
not long (for it is impatient Avhen watched), “ halaucing^^ its graceful form, which looks all the more tiny when 
contrasted w-ith the huge rocks and dashing waters, and then uttering its cheerful whistle, will dart away; or, 
if the rock be large enough, it will run to and fro, as if delighting in the wildness of the scene, meanwhile 
snapping right and left at the insects which swarm around it, or picking up some minute mollusk from the 
edge of the stream. In England it is equally aquatic in its mode of life, dw'clling on brooks, and especially 
mountain-streams, in Wales or the northern counties. It is occasionally knowm to take up its quarters 
near a farm-house; and I have seen it among outbuildings in company with its Pied congener. Jerdon 
considers that “ it has the jerking motion of the tail more remarkably than any other of the group, for it 
appears unable to keep it motionless for a moment.’’^ 
Nidification . — In the Himalayas this species breeds in May and June, laying four or five eggs. Mr. Brooks 
has taken its nest in Cashmere on mountain-streams up to 6000 feet. He writes, “One nest that I found in 
Cashmere, at Kagan, was placed in a small bush on an island in the Sindh river, about 5 feet above the ground. 
The situation was that of a fincKs nest ! It was composed of moss, fibres, &c., and lined with hair, a neat 
compact nest, and placed in the fork of the branches near the top of the bush. Another nest was placed 
under a large boulder on the dry bed of the river, and was composed of the same materials.’^ The eggs from 
these nests arc described as “ broad ovals at the larger end, and much compressed and pointed towards the 
smaller end. Typically the ground-colour is yellowish or brownish white, closely mottled and clouded all over 
with pale yelloAvish brown or browmish yellow-. These markings, always pale dull and smudgy, are somewhat 
darker in some specimens and lighter in others ; almost all have a very fine black hair-like line near the 
larger end.” They vary from 0-68 to 0-73 inch in length by 0-53 to 0'55 inch in breadth {Hume). 
Near Gibraltar, according to Col. Irby, they breed in April and May, generally in holes of the brickAvork 
of the water-mills, sometimes close to the wheel, or in holes of rocks overhanging streams. In England it 
likewise builds, as a rule, near water. Professor Newton states that other sites are sometimes chosen, and 
instances one case in which it Avas known to build on a shelf in a room, which the bird entered through a 
broken window. He describes the eggs as “ French- white, closely mottled, suffused, or clouded Avith very pare 
brown or olive, varying in depth of tint and also in the extent of the ground shewn betAveen the markings ; 
they measure from O' 79 to O' 72 inch by from 0'57 to O' 53.” 
