THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 333 



being rare to see more than two or three individuals in one day ; 

 though this number is slightly increased during the autumn migra- 

 tion, the species can only be described as an extremely isolated 

 occurrence for Heligoland. 



On the llth of October 1883 1 obtained an example of this species, 

 which, in its general colouring, differs so widely from the blackish- 

 red brown (schwdrzlich rothbrauri) autumn plumage of this bird, 

 that it resembles more a young 8. rubetra than a S. rubicola ; on 

 the whole, however, it is of a considerably lighter isabelline colour 

 than the former species, and has its rump isabelline without spots. 



It is probably not what is known as a pale yellow variety, such 

 as one linds among nearly all bird-species, but has all the characters 

 of a normally coloured bird ; and Aeuckens, who shot it, would 

 not renounce the opinion that he had killed a great rarity. The 

 uniformly coloured blackish-brown tail, and the unspotted rump, 

 however, leave no doubt as to the position of this example. 



The species is a resident breeding bird from Portugal to China 

 and Japan ; it does not appear to extend beyond the latitude of 

 northern Germany, except in small numbers, for it is of very rare 

 occurrence in Denmark and the south of the Scandinavian peninsula. 



Wagtail Motacilla. The Wagtails are distributed over the 

 Old World, including about thirty species, containing large numbers 

 of individuals; seven of these are resident in Europe, and visit Heligo- 

 land in more or less considerable numbers. In regard to their figure, 

 the markings of their plumage, as well as their general bearing and 

 habits, these birds may be regarded as the most elegant of all the 

 species inhabiting Europe. 



145. White Wagtail [WEISSE BACHSTELZE]. 

 MOTACILLA ALBA, Linn. 



Heligolandish : Blii Lungen = Blue Long one. Lung is the Heligolandish 

 for Long, and is a very descriptive designation as a generic name for the 

 true Wagtails. 



Motacilla alba. Naumann, iii. 803. 



White Wagtail. Dresser, iii. 233. 



Bergeronnette grise. Temminck, Manuel, i. 255, iii. 178. 



The White Wagtail is one of the few birds which now and again 

 make an attempt to breed on this island ; that this does not happen 

 more frequently is probably due to the want of fresh water ; for 

 although, during the winter months, a fairly large quantity of water 



