MOTACILLA.] AVES JNSESSORES. 115 



the others black: bill black: irides dusky. (Winter plumage.) Throat 

 and fore part of the neck white : a crescent- shaped black patch on the 

 upper part of the breast : all the upper parts inclining to blackish gray. 

 (Young of the year.) Crown of the head, and all the upper parts, ash- 

 gray, inclining to bluish gray; wing-coverts broadly edged and tipped 

 with white : on the upper part of the breast a crescent-shaped patch of 

 dusky ash, the horns of the crescent extending upwards to the ears in a 

 narrow line on each side of the neck ; throat, cheeks, under part of the 

 neck, and lower part of the breast, dirty white : abdomen nearly pure 

 white : quills blackish, with an oblong white spot on their inner webs. 

 (Egg.) White, speckled with ash-colour: long. diam. nine lines; trans, 

 diam. seven lines. 



A common and well-known species, frequenting pastures and newly 

 ploughed lands, more especially those in the vicinity of water. Runs 

 with great celerity, and occasionally wades in shallow streams in pursuit 

 of aquatic insects. Migrates in the North of England, but is stationary 

 in the southern counties. Nest on the ground, or in the holes of trees 

 and old buildings ; composed of moss, fibres, and wool, and lined with 

 hair. Eggs four or five. 



63. M. Boarula, Linn. (Gray Wagtail.) Head and 

 back bluish gray ; rump and under parts bright yellow : 

 tail very long. 



M. Boarula, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. i. p. 257. Gray Wagtail, 

 Mont. Orn. Diet, and Supp. Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 253. pi. 49. f. 2. 

 Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 228. 



DIMENS. Entire length seven inches nine lines : length of the bill 

 (from the forehead) five lines, (from the gape) seven lines and a half; 

 of the tarsus ten lines ; of the hind toe, claw included, six lines ; of the 

 tail three inches ten lines ; from the carpus to the end of the wing three 

 inches one line and a half. 



DESCRIPT. (Summer plumage.) Head, neck, back, and scapulars, 

 bluish gray: above the eyes a pale streak: throat black: rump, and 

 under parts, bright yellow, the former tinged with green : quills and 

 six middle tail-feathers grayish black, more or less edged with yellowish 

 white; outer tail-feather entirely white; the two next white, with a part 

 of the outer web black : feet dusky brown. (Winter plumage.) Throat 

 yellowish white: under parts of a paler yellow. Obs. Female at all times 

 paler than the male. (Egg.) White, nearly covered with reddish yellow 

 brown, varying in intensity : long. diam. eight lines and a half; trans, 

 diara. seven lines. 



A regular winter visitant in the southern parts of the kingdom, but in 

 the northern a summer visitant. Habits and nidification very similar to 

 those of the last species. Is said to have two broods in the year, the first 

 of which is generally fledged about the end of May. 



** Hind claw elongated; but slightly curved. 



64. M. yfava, Ray. (Yellow Wagtail.) Head, and all 

 the upper parts of the body, olive-green : streak above the 

 eye, and under parts, bright yellow : tail moderate, 



H 2 



