224 MOTACILLA ALBA. 



France, particularly in the neighbourhood of Calais, has never 

 yet been discovered on the opposite shores of Kent, or in any 

 part of England. As, therefore, our bird, which has always 

 been considered as identical with the M. alba, proves to be a 

 distinct species, I have named it after my friend W. Yarrell, 

 Esq., as a just tribute to his varied talents as a naturalist. 



" The characters by which these two species may be readily 

 distinguished are as follows : — The pied wagtail of England 

 (M. Yarrelli) is somewhat more robust in form, and in its 

 full summer dress has the whole of the head, chest, and back, 

 of a full deep jet black ; wdiile in the INI. alba, at the same 

 period, the throat and head alone are of this colour, the back 

 and the rest of the upper surface being of a light ash-grey. In 

 winter the two species more nearly assimilate in their colour- 

 ing, and this circumstance has, doubtless, been the cause of their 

 hitherto being considered as identical ; the black back of M. 

 Yarrelli being grey at this season, although never so light as 

 in M. alba. An additional evidence of their being distinct (but 

 which has, doubtless, contributed to the confusion) is, that the 

 female of M. Yarrelli never has the back black, as in the male ; 

 this part, even in summer, being dark grey, in which respect it 

 closely resembles the other species." 



Individuals of this sj)ecies I have several times met with in the 

 south of Scotland. At least I am unable to distinguish them 

 from undoubted French individuals. Its habits, as described 

 by continental authors, seem to be precisely similar to those of 

 M. Yarrelli. It is said to extend its migrations to the extreme 

 north, to feed on insects and larvae, which it procures in moist 

 pastures, by the margins of pools and running waters, as well 

 as in the streets of villages and towns, and even on the roofs 

 of buildings, and to nestle in meadows, in the crevices of rocks, 

 in holes of trees, or in walls, laying five or six eggs of a greyish- 

 white colour, freckled with dusky. 



Young. — The young have the bill and feet reddish-brown, 

 the lower parts greyish-white ; on the breast a greyish-brown 

 or grey crescent ; all the upper parts light brownish-grey, ex- 

 cepting the wings and tail, which are brownish-black, the latter 

 with the outer feathers as in the adult. 



