MOTACILLID^ — THE WAGTAILS. 



165 



Subfamily MOT ACILLINJE. 



Genus MOTACILLA, Linn. 



Motacilla, Linn. Syst. Nat. (Type, Motacilla alba.) 



The diagnosis already given of Motacilla will serve to define it. The 

 genus is an Old World one, represented by several species, only one of which 

 {M. alba) is entitled to a place here from occurring in Greenland. 



Motacilla alba, Linn. 



WHITE WAGTAIL. 



Motacilla alba, Linn. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. 1766, 331. — Keys. & Blas. Wirb. Europ. 1840, 

 xlix, and 174. — Degland, Orn. Europ. I, 1849, 433. — Reinhardt, Ibis, 1861, 6 

 (Greenland). — Newton, Baring-Gould's Iceland, 1863, App. ("rather plentiful"). — 

 Baird, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 152. 



Figure : GouLD, Birds Europe, 143. 



Sp, Ciiak. (9,410 (^, Niirnberg). Forehead as far back as above the eyes, with sides 

 of head and neclv, white ; the remaining portion of head and neck above and below 

 to thejugnlum, black; the rest 

 of under parts white. Up- 

 per parts ashy-gray, including 

 ]-uinp ; the upper tail-coverts 

 tinged with black. Wings 

 with two conspicuous bands 

 and the outer edges of the sec- 

 ondaries white. Tail-feathers 

 black ; the outer two white, 

 edged with black internally. 

 Bill and legs black. Tip of 

 Aving foi'ined by outer three 

 primaries ; the distance be- 

 tween the third and fourth 

 about one third that between 

 the fourth and fifth. Tarsi lengthened ; claw small ; hind toe and claw shorter than the 

 middle, its claw short, considerably curved, less than the toe alone ; lateral toes nearly 

 equal. Length, 7.30 ; wing, 3.45 ; tail, 3.90 ; bill from nostril, .37 ; tarsus, .86 ; hind toe 

 and claw, .50. 



Hab. Continental Europe, rarer in England ; Iceland ; Greenland (only two specimens 

 seen); Siberia; Syria; Nubia, etc. 



Motacilla yarrclli, a closely allied sjjecies, by some considered a A-ariety 

 only, differs in having the rump black, the ashy of the back glossed with 

 l)lackish, and with the black edging of the lateral tail-feathers broader. 



Habits. Tlie common White Wagtail of Europe claims a place in the 



Motacilla alba. 



