CHAPTER XI 



THE MIGRATIONS OF THE WHITE WAGTAIL, 

 MOT AC ILL A ALBA 



The migrations of the White Wagtail are those of 

 a Bird of Passage traversingr our shores when en route 

 between its summer quarters in North-Western Europe, 

 the Faroes, and Iceland, and its winter retreats to the 

 south of us, which extend to Northern Africa. 



Its movements present several points of interest — • 

 among others, the fact that it is one of the species, 

 not many in number, whose main lines of migration in 

 the British Isles lie along our western sea-board and 

 its islands, and not on the east coast. 



There are records of the birds' nesting occasionally 

 in various parts of Great Britain. 



Spring Immigi'ation and Passage Northivards. — 

 The first White Wagtails to arrive from the southern 

 countries in which the winter has been passed, have 

 been detected on the south coast of England as early as 

 the latter half of March.^ It is not, however, until the 

 early days of April that their appearance may be 

 generally expected, and the scene of their arrival is 

 chiefly on the western section of our southern coast-line. 



1 In 1872 it is said to have occurred at Plymouth on 3rd March, which 

 is the earliest date known to me for its appearance. 



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