552 



P ASSURES. 



MOTACILLID^. 



MOTACILLID^E. 



MOTACILLA SULPHUBEA, Bechstein*. 



THE GKEY WAGTAIL. 



Motacilla boarulai. 



THE habits of this bird are in some respects similar to 

 those of the two preceding ; but, as a rule, it has very 

 different haunts, and, except during autumn and winter, is 

 seldom found in such places as are frequented by the Pied 

 Wagtail, affecting in spring and summer more secluded 

 spots and especially the neighbourhood of clear, rocky or 

 gravelly watercourses. Its partiality for localities of this 

 kind renders its distribution throughout the kingdom, as 

 will presently be more fully set forth, not unlike that of the 

 Dipper, and on the whole it may be said to be only an 

 autumnal or winter-visitor to the eastern and most of the 

 southern counties of England, not habitually breeding in 

 the former and only in the more westerly of the latter. It 

 is nowhere a very abundant species and is far more shy and 



* Gemeinnutzige Naturgescbichte Deutschlands. Ed. 2, iii. p. 459 (1807). 

 t Not Motacilla boarula, Scopoli (1769). 



