SGI MOTACILLID.E. 



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

 the female of our Pied Wagtail 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,"" 



Such are the observations of Mr. Gould, and although 

 concurring with him in opinion that these birds are distinct, 

 it is intended here to give figures and descriptions, as far as 

 requisite, of both birds in their summer and winter plumage, 

 to invite investigation on this subject ; premising that M. 

 Temminck, in the Supplement to his Manual, page 171, 

 refers to Mr. Govdd's figure in the Second Part of the Birds 

 of Europe, and also to the coloured lithographic figure in 

 Werner's Atlas of Illustrations to the Manual, which, al- 

 though there called Motacilla lugubris, is certainly our 

 Pied Wagtail, as representations of varieties of Motacilla 

 alba. The Prince of Musignano has considered our bird 

 distinct from M. alba, and has admitted it as a species in 

 his recently published Geographical and Comparative List of 

 the Birds of Europe and North America, 



The Pied Wagtail of this country, though a very common 

 bird, is deservedly admired for the elegance of its form, as 

 well as for the activity and airy lightness exhibited in all its 

 actions. It is ever in motion, running with facility by a 

 rapid succession of steps in pursuit of its insect food, moving 

 from place to place by short undulating flights, uttering a 

 cheerful chirping note while on the wing, alighting again on 

 the ground with a sylph-like buoyancy, and a graceful fan- 

 ning motion of the tail from which it derives its name. It 

 frequents the vicinity of ponds and streams, moist pastures, 

 and the grass plots of pleasure-grounds ; may be frequently 

 seen wading in shallow water, seeking for various aquatic 

 insects, or their larvae ; and a portion of a letter sent me 

 lately by William Rayncr, Esq. of Uxbridge, who keeps a 

 variety of birds in a large aviary near his parlour window for 



