184 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 



has induced the observation. Throughout the winter the gray 

 wagtail generally keeps in pairs ; in autumn only have I seen 

 a whole family, and never more together. Their prey is taken 

 by the different methods described in the notice of the last spe- 

 cies. About the head of mountain springs I have frequently 

 observed this attractive bird, but knew not the object of its 

 pursuit in these interesting spots, until the examination of the 

 stomach of one in the month of December proved it, at least 

 in one instance, to have been the minute river limpet, Ancylus 

 fluviatilis, of which it contained many specimens. In so far 

 as the haunts of M. alba and M. Boarula are regarded, I can- 

 not see the advantage of Cuvier's division of the wagtails into 

 two genera. Under Budytes, a name suggested by its being 

 often seen among cattle (Reg. An. t. i. p. 391, 2nd ed.), he 

 ranks the gray, and under Motacilla, which is stated generally 

 to be seen about waters, is classed the pied ; but, according to 

 my observation, if either bird should in general terms be de- 

 scribed as frequenting pastures, and hunting insects among 

 the flocks, it should be the M. alba ; and if hunting the vici- 

 nity of waters should be regarded as characteristic of the one 

 rather than the other, it should be of the M. Boarula. The 

 " form" oiM.flava renders the propriety of his sub-genus more 

 obvious. 



Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava, Ray. — Mr. Templeton 

 has remarked that this species is i( a rare summer visitant, ap- 

 pearing more commonly about Lough Neagh than elsewhere/' 

 From the observations of ornithologists in various parts of the 

 country, it seems to be generally a rare species. To myself 

 it has in Ireland* occurred but once in a wild state, on June 

 24, 1832, in a turf bog on the confines of the county Donegal, 

 a few miles from the city of Londonderry. But once has it 

 been seen by Wm. Sinclaire, Esq., when, on April 28, 1833, a 

 single individual appeared, and on that day only, at "The Falls." 

 In the collection of T. W. Warren, Esq. of Dublin, I have 

 seen a specimen f which was shot at Finglass, near that city, 



* In England I have seen it in the month of July about the lakes of 

 Uawes-water and Windermere. 



f This is the true M.jlava as distinguished from the M, ncglecta of 

 Gould. 



