MOTACILLID^E. 



back, and the rest of the upper surface, being of a light 

 ash-grey. In winter the two species more nearly assimi- 

 late in their colouring ; and this circumstance has, doubt- 

 less, been the cause of their being hitherto considered as 

 identical ; the black back of M . Yarrellii being grey at 

 this season, although never so light as in M. alba. An 

 additional evidence of their being distinct (but which 

 has, doubtless, contributed to the confusion) is, that the 

 female of our Pied Wagtail never has the back black, as 

 in the male, this part, even in summer, being dark grey, 

 in which respect it closely resembles the other species." 



Such are the observations of Mr. Gould, and although 

 concurring with him in opinion that these birds are dis- 

 tinct, it is intended here to give figures and descriptions, 

 as far as requisite, of both birds in their summer and 

 winter plumage, to invite investigation on this subject ; 

 premising that M. Temminck, in the Supplement to his 

 Manual, page 171, refers to Mr. Gould's figure in the Se- 

 cond Part of the Birds of Europe, and also to the co- 

 loured lithographic figure in Werner's Atlas of Illustra- 

 tions to the Manual, which, although there called Mota- 

 cilla lugubris, is certainly our Pied Wagtail, as represen- 

 tations of varieties of Motacilla alba. The Prince of 

 Canino has considered our bird distinct from M . alba, and 

 has admitted it as a species in his published Geographical 

 and Comparative List of the Birds of Europe and North 

 America. 



The Pied Wagtail of this country, though a very com- 

 mon bird, is deservedly admired for the elegance of its 

 form, as well as for the activity and airy lightness exhi- 

 bited in all its actions. It is ever in motion, running 

 with facility by a rapid succession of steps in pursuit of 

 its insect food, moving from place to place by short un- 

 dulating flights, uttering a cheerful chirping note while on 



