The Pied Wagtail. 177 



are brought under close observation. In some birds, However, a few feathers, 

 which represent a sort of winter coat, drop out during the change of plumage : 

 this is certainly the case with some, if not all of the African Weavers,* (whether 

 Viduine or Ploceine) ; although most of the marvellous transformation in these 

 birds is produced as a general rule by change of colour, and the growth of new 

 overlapping flank and tail plumes. 



As aviary birds the Wagtails are among those most easy to keep and tame ; 

 and, provided that a little insect food can be given occasionally, no birds are less 

 trouble to their owners. 



Faviily—MO TA CILLID^. 



The Pied Wagtail. 



Motacilla htgubris, Tkmm. 



CHIEFLY confined to the western countries of Europe, this Wagtail occurs 

 also in N.W. Africa : in the autumn stragglers have been killed from 

 Nice to Sardinia, Sicily, and Malta. In Great Britain it is common and 

 generally distributed, and excepting in the extreme north, whence it migrates 

 southwards at the approach of winter, it is a partial resident. 



The colouring of this bird in breeding plumage is very pleasing ; the upper 

 parts intense silky black, but the forehead, sides of head and a more or less 

 prominent streak or patch (confluent with the latter) on the sides of the neck 

 snow-white ; wing-coverts and innermost secondaries margined with white ; two 

 outermost tail-feathers on each side mostly white ; quill feathers of wings blackish 



* I employ the tenii oul; for those birds called Weavers by avicullurists, uot for all the members of the 

 family Ploceida:. 



