126 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



during September, but the bulk move inland ere daybreak. 

 At the Humber mouth, young birds, often in considerable 

 numbers, pass through the district early in September, 

 while the adults which spend the winter in the east 

 coast districts do not arrive before October, leaving 

 again in March. It is common around Beverley in winter, 

 frequenting running streams and ditches, and seems especially 

 fond of sewers and sewerage beds. At Flamborough the 

 Grey Wagtail has been shot in autumn when taking its 

 departure. The observations communicated to the British 

 Association Migration Committee contain but two references 

 to this bird, viz. : — " Spurn, September 7th, Grey Wagtail, 

 several " (Fourth Report, p. 34) ; and " A few during 

 September " (Sixth Report, p. 47). 



Its local names are : — Winter Wagtail at Barnsley and 

 Beverley ; Yellow Wagtail along the Lower Wharfe and at 

 Middlesbrough in winter ; Yellow Water Waggy at Staithes 

 and Loftus-in-Cleveland ; Waggy Wagtail at Fewston, 

 Washburndale ; and Washtail at Sedbergh. 



BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL. 

 Motacilia flava f/.). 



Casual visitant during the spring and autumn migrations, of rare 

 occurrence. 



When we consider that the Blue-headed Wagtail breeds 

 at no greater distance from us than the opposite shores of 

 the Continent from Norway to the Mediterranean, there is 

 every reason to believe that the bird visits us in the spring 

 and autumn much more frequently than the appended records 

 would lead us to suppose. Careful observation of the flocks 

 of newly arrived Yellow Wagtails in spring, especially at 

 the coast, may shew that this darker, and slightly larger. 

 Continental form occurs in their company from time to time. 



The instances of its appearance, so far as I have been 

 able to ascertain, are as follows : — 



