Not found in Eastern Bengal, Assam, or Burma. A permanent resident. Nests in a hole in an old boat, a roof, a bridge, etc. The eggs are greenish white, blotched with brown.
This wagtail is a fine songster, and may sometimes be seen sitting on a telegraph wire pouring forth its melody. (Illus. B. D., p. 14.)
[93]. Motacilla melanope: The Grey Wagtail. (F. 832), (J. 592), (-II.)
This bird is misnamed. It has a large amount of yellow in its plumage. For this reason Jerdon calls it the grey and yellow wagtail.
The upper parts are bluish grey, marked with yellowish green on the lower back. Throat white, lower plumage bright yellow, wings brown, middle tail feathers black, outer ones white.
[94]. Motacilla borealis: The Grey-headed Wagtail. (F. 833), (J. 593), (-II.)
This species is so like M. melanope (No. [93]) that it is not easy to differentiate between them. It is, however, generally possible to distinguish them by the fact that in this species the chin is yellow, and the breast is sometimes mottled with black.
The Pipits, 95 and 96
[95]. Anthus maculatus: The Indian Tree-Pipit. (F. 841), (J. 596), (I.)
A dull-coloured bird like a wagtail in shape, but with a shorter tail, which it sometimes wags in a half-hearted manner.