162 MOTACILLLD^E. 



poplars, making a loud twittering noise. One of its Ger- 

 man names, Schnee-vogel (snow-bird), was evidently given 

 in this belief. It is sometimes caught and caged, but has 

 nothing but its beautiful colouring to recommend it. . It is 

 a stupid lazy bird, occupied only in eating and reposing 

 for digestion. Its song is weak and uncertain. 



THE PIED WAGTAIL. 



MOTACILLA YARBELLII. 



Summer all the plumage variegated with white and black ; back and scapulars, 

 chin, throat, and neck black ; a small portion of the side of the neck white. 

 Winter back and scapulars ash-grey ; chin and^ throat white, with a black, 

 but not entirely isolated, gorget. Length seven inches and a half. Eggs 

 bluish white, speckled with dark grey. 



UNTIL the publication of Yarrell's admirable " History of 

 British Birds," the family of the Wagtails were in a 

 state of great confusion. The three species which were 

 known to inhabit Great Britain had been considered 

 identical with continental species. The observations of 

 Mr. Gould led him to another conclusion \ this, namely, 

 that our common White and Yellow Wagtails are 

 almost unknown on the Continent, and that their con- 

 tinental representatives are as little known here, while 

 the species distinguished by the name of the " Grey 

 Wagtail" has a wider range. It became necessary there- 

 fore to define the several species by the imposition of 

 new names. This task was gracefully performed by Mr. 

 Gould's naming the British Pied Wagtail, after his "friend, 

 W. Yarrell, Esq., as a just tribute to his varied acquire- 

 ments as a naturalist." The specific name alba he re- 

 tained, but applied exclusively to the continental species. 

 The name "Rayi" was given to the British Yellow Wagtail, 

 having been first described by our " countryman and 

 naturalist, John Bay ; " and the Yellow Wagtail of the 

 Continent, or rather one of them, retained the name 



