126 BIRDS OF EGYPT. 



Fam. MOTACILLID-ffi. 



87. MoTACiLLA ALBA, Linn. Wldte Wagtail. 



This is one of the most abundant birds in Egypt and Nubia 

 during the winter ; but its numbers diminish considerably as 

 spring advances, and in Nubia I found it comparatively rare 

 in April. 



Winter plumage. — Crown of the head and nape black, or 

 inclining to black ; remainder of the upper plumage slaty 

 grey ; wings dark brown, most of the feathers broadly edged 

 with dirty white ; tail dark brown, with the exception of the 

 two outer feathers on each side, which are white ; forehead 

 and underparts white, with a black crescent-shaped collar ; 

 legs and bill black ; irides dark brown. 



In summer plumage the throat is black. 



Entire length 7 inches ; culmeu 0"4 ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 3"4 ; tarsus 0*9. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 143. 



88. MoTACiLLA VIDUA, Suud. Wliite-vnnged Wagtail. 



This species, although I believe it to be a resident in Upper 

 Egypt and Nubia, is most abundant at the First Cataract, 

 the only place where I myself have met with it. Although 

 it has selected this barren and rocky district, where the Nile 

 dashes over the rough granite rocks in a turmoil of waters, 

 it is by no means an unsociable bird, but appears to welcome 

 the stranger as it flits from rock to I'ock along the shore or 

 alights upon his " dahabeah." It is ever active in the 

 pursuit of food, which consists chiefly of a small green beetle, 

 and is perfectly heedless of intrusion. Its sociability was the 

 chief cause of its safety ; for the banks being crowded with 



