309 
Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 
76. Motacilla ocularis, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1860, p. 55. 
This species is not so common as M. luzoniensis, but I also 
detected it breeding on our island. It has less white on the 
wings than M. lugubris, and a perennially grey back. In summer 
the whole of its breast and under-neck, from the bill downwards, 
becomes black. In the young plumage, M. lugubris can be 
always distinguished by its much whiter wings; and in the adult 
winter plumage, by its black carpal region and its black-spotted 
back. In summer the difference is far more apparent. Both 
species have black streaks through the eye, which distinguish 
them to the most casual observer from the white-faced M . luzo¬ 
niensis. 
M. ocularis appears to range from Canton to Peking *. 
77. Motacilla boarula, L. 
Motacilla sulphurea , Bechst. 
A common resident. A male, with the black on the throat 
just showing itself, used to visit every morning, in January 1862, 
a drain under my window. The wagging up and down of his 
hind quarters seemed incessant, even while the bird itself was 
standing still. While preening its feathers, still the tail wagged, 
not stopping even while the little fellow drew between his man¬ 
dibles the feathers that form its coverts. The only moment of 
cessation I observed was when the bird stretched its wing and 
leg. It used to engage itself in catching the flies among a pile 
of stones, perching on the top, stamping its little feet, shaking 
its tail, and constantly turning round and round in the same 
place. 
/ 78. Budytes flaya (L.), var. rayi. 
Our South China form of Yellow Wagtail is the true Motacilla 
flava, L., having in full dress a grey head, and white chin and eye¬ 
brow. Prom North China (Tientsin) I have seen specimens not to be 
distinguished from the European B. cinereocapilla , with the entire 
* I find, as I had suspected, that the Wagtail of this form from the in¬ 
terior of China, Siberia, and the Amoor, is always grey-backed in summer. 
In such case the black-backed race will be peculiar to the Japanese islands, 
and my M. ocularis will merely be a synonym of the true M. lugubris of 
Pallas. For the Japanese race I would propose the specific nam ejaponica. 
-R. S. 
