Society for the Protection of Birds. 
EDUCATIONAL SERIES. Edited by H. E. DRESSER, F.L.S., F.Z.S. 
No. 13..-WAGTAILS. 
by We. WARDE CPOWLER, 
GREY WAGTAIL. 
I, Names.—P]ED WACTAIL, GREY WACTAIL, YELLOW (or Ray's) WA@TAIL. 
Family—Motacillide. 
Genus—Motacilla. 
Species—M. lugubris. Pied Wagtail. M. melanope. Grey Wagtail. 
M. rait. Yellow Wagtail. 
II. General Description. 
1. Prep Waerart.—Adult male in breeding plumage: forehead and sides of the head 
and neck pure white, contrasting strongly with the deep black of crown, nape, throat, 
and breast; upper parts and wing-coverts black, and the latter margined with white, 
forming a double bar ; wing-quills blackish ; tail black, except the outer two pairs, 
which are mainly white ; belly white; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length 74 inches, 
wing 34 inches. The female has the back chiefly grey, and has less black on head 
and breast. In winter both sexes lose the black chin and throat, and become greyer 
on the back. The young are grey of various shades, and are often called Grey 
Wagtails by the inexperienced. 
2. Grey Waerart.—Adult male in breeding plumage: crown, ear-coverts, and upper 
parts generally, slate-grey ; a narrow white streak above the eye, and a broad white 
line below it, running to the neck ; wing feathers brownish-black, the long secondaries 
with whitish margins; tail feathers blackish, except the outside pair, which are 
white, and the next two pairs, which are partly so; chin and throat black; breast 
and under parts sulphur-yellow; bill, legs, and feet, brown. Length rather more 
Illustrations on pages 1 and 3, by kind permission of Messrs. Longmans, Green & Co., from 
“British Birds,’ by Mr. W. H. Hudson, C.M.Z.S, 
