THE WHITE WAGTAIL. 209 



doubtful breeder Shetlands and only scarce visitor 0. Hebrides, 

 where it has been confused with the White Wagtail (Ann. S.N.H., 

 1902, p. 144). Many of our breeding-birds migrate southwards in 

 autumn and return in early spring ; nestlings ringed in England 

 have migrated to France and Portugal. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. Breeds in small numbers on west coast 

 of France, Belgium, and Holland (once), and, according to Collett, 

 near Stavanger and Bergen in Norway. Otherwise represented 

 in Europe, north-west Africa, and northern parts of Asia by other 

 forms. On migration in Heligoland and Denmark, winters in 

 south France, Portugal, Spain, and Marocco. 



85. Motacilla alba alba L. THE WHITE WAGTAIL. 



MOTACILLA ALBA Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 185 (1758 " Habitat 

 in Europa." Restricted typical locality : Sweden). 

 Motacilla alba Linnaeus, Yarrell, I, p. 548 ; Saunders, p. 123. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 8). Adult male. Winter. Much like first 

 winter male of M. a. lugubris, hind portion of crown and nape 

 being black, often with some grey feathers ; mantle and scapulars 

 never with black, and grey purer and paler than first winter of 

 M. a. lugubris ; white of fore-head, sides of head, chin and throat 

 rarely with a tinge of yellow ; sides of breast and flanks paler 

 grey than in first winter M. a. lugubris, and breast and belly purer 

 white ; wing-feathers not brown as in first winter nor so black 

 as in adult male M . a. lugubris, more greyish-black ; greater 

 and median wing-coverts usually with greyish-white fringes and 

 tips but these are sometimes white, but not so pure white as in 

 adult male M . a. lugubris ; lesser coverts with tips and fringes 

 longer and paler grey than in first winter M. a. lugubris. This 

 plumage is acquired by complete moult in Aug. -Oct. Summer. 

 The body-feathers and often some innermost secondaries, some 

 greater and most median wing-coverts and central tail-feathers are 

 moulted in Jan.-March, but not rest of tail or wings. Exactly like 

 winter, but chin and throat entirely black. 



Adult female. Winter. Fore-head grey with sometimes a 

 little dusky- white showing, only bases of feathers being white ; 

 crown grey rather darker and more olivaceous than mantle and 

 sometimes with a few blackish feathers, especially on sides of 

 crown ; lores, line over eye and ear-coverts white mottled dusky 

 and tinged olivaceous ; chin and throat white often tinged 

 olivaceous ; rest of plumage like adult male but breast-band not 

 so intense black and belly not so pure white. Differs from first 

 winter M. a. lugubris in having less white on fore-head, much 

 more grey and less black on crown, and paler mantle. Moult as 

 adult male. Summer. Moult as adult male. Fore-head becomes 

 white slightly mottled black ; crown and nape black, usually with 



