PERCHING BIRDS. 89 
the true yellow, or Ray’s wagtail, which by Cuvier was 
removed into another genus, and called Budytes, but 
which in Orr’s edition of Cuvier (1849) is stated to be 
the M. neglecta of Gould, although previously known as 
M. flava of Linneus. 
According to the most recent arrangement they there- 
fore stand thus: Pied wagtail (Motacila Yarrelli, 
Gould), White wagtail (I. alba, Linn.), Grey wagtail 
(M. boarula, Linn.), Grey-headed wagtail (M. neglecta, 
Gould), Yellow wagtail (M. flava, Linn.). All these 
five I am convinced are clearly distinct species, and I 
have met with all of them in my own neighbourhood ; 
even the rarer ones more than once, and under favourable 
circumstances for recognition and identification. 
The Pied Wagiail (M. Yarvrelli, Gould) is by far the 
most abundant of the family. Some of them remain 
with us all the year, but it is in spring and summer that 
they are met with in the greatest numbers. Their elegant 
form and active habits are very pleasing, and all their 
motions are marked by an airy gracefulness. During 
the winter they frequent the neighbourhood of houses, 
and I have often seen them busily employed in searching 
the roads and gutters. 
They are very hardy, being far less affected by cold 
than many other birds who are apparently better able to 
bear it. On Feb. 17, 1855, during a severe frost, with 
the thermometer standing at 22° at the time, I watched 
with much interest one of these birds bathing in a 
shallow and rapid part of the stream running through 
the village, a few yards below the mill. It walked in as 
far as it could, and then with great energy dipped in its 
head and threw the water over its back several times, 
and with such evident enjoyment that you might have 
