190 HEDGE ACCENTOR. 



system. The birds composing the typical genera 

 are chiefly aquatic in their habits ; that is, they 

 frequent the banks of streams or rivulets, or low 

 and moist meadow lands. They are beautifully 

 clean in their appearance, breed on the ground, 

 or on low rocks and banks adjacent to the stream. 

 They are chiefly insectivorous, and most of them 

 are birds of passage, while all perform a partial 

 migration. The colours of the plumage are con- 

 trasts of black and white, or of gray combined 

 with yellow. Some species are found in Europe, 

 Asia, and Africa. In America and New Holland 

 other forms represent them. These birds have, 

 by modern ornithologists, been separated into 

 two types of form,- the one forming the genus 

 Budytes of the illustrious Cuvier, the other being 

 retained typical of Motacilla as restricted by 

 Dr Latham. There is a slight difference in the 

 form of the two types, Budytes is less length- 

 ened, has the hinder claw elongated, and in its 

 habits approaches nearer to Anthus, partaking of 

 their manners, but retaining the Wagtail plumage. 

 It frequents low alluvial districts, and breeds on 

 the ground, often away from any stream. We 

 sliall first notice the typical form ; or, 



MOTACILLA. Generic characters. Bill slen- 

 der, straight, slightly entering the feathers 

 of the forehead ; rictus smooth ; wings with 

 the first and second quills longest ; scapular 

 feathers very long, especially the quills ; tail 

 lengthened ; tarsus larger than any of the 



