40 MOTACILLID^E. 



Distribution in the British Islands. A Winter Visitor in 

 varying numbers. Chiefly observed on the northern islands 

 and on the east coast of Britain, but very rare on the 

 western seaboard, and has only once been detected in Ireland. 



General Distribution. The Shore -Lark inhabits the 

 northern portions of the Palsearctic and Nearctic regions, 

 and is found in winter as far south as southern Europe, 

 north China, and the southern United States. It is repre- 

 sented by other Horned Larks in south-eastern Europe, 

 central Asia, north Africa, other parts of North America, 

 and the northern Andes of South America. 



Family MOTACILLID^. 



Genus MOTACILLA Linnceus, Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 184. 

 Type : M. alba Linn. 



Motacilla, as if motdcfda from motax, from moto = I keep moving. Hence 

 not a compound, as has been alleged, of a non-existent word Kt'X\os=a tail, 

 but a diminutive. 



Motacilla alba, WHITE WAGTAIL. 



Motacilla alba Linnceus, Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 185 : 

 Sweden. 



Motacilla alba Linn. ; _B. O. U. List, 1st ed. 1883, p. 29 ; Sharpe, 

 Cat. Birds _B. M. x. 1885, p. 464 ; Saunders, Manual, 2nd 

 ed. 1899, p. 123. 



Alba= white. 



Distribution in the British Islands. A Bird of Passage 

 traversing our shores, especially those of the west and the 

 Orkneys and Shetlands, in spring and autumn when en route 

 to and from its breeding haunts in northern Europe. As a 

 Summer Visitor it has been known to nest occasionally from 

 Devonshire to the Shetlands. 



General Distribution. Breeds in Iceland and throughout 

 Europe, except where represented by M. lugubris, and has 

 occurred in Jan May en, Kolguev, and southern Greenland. It 

 winters in Africa, as far south as Nigeria and British East 



