54 



BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



(Srep Wa$tail. 



THE Grey Wagtail {Motacilla sulphured, Bechstein) is a 

 resident species pretty generally distributed throughout the 

 British Islands, but is more local in the South of England. 

 It is also a resident in Central and Southern Europe, 

 ranging across Central Asia ; and is to be met with in 

 winter in India, Persia, and Northern Africa. The adult 

 male in summer is bluish-grey above ; rump, yellow; eye- 

 stripe, white; moustachial line, white; throat, black; under 

 parts, bright yellow ; under tail-coverts, richer yellow ; 

 wings, greyish-black ; coverts, tipped with whitish ; tail, 

 blackish-brown ; outer rectrices, white ; irides, brown ; bill, 

 legs, and feet, brown. Length, between seven and eight 

 inches. The adult female is similar, but colours not so 

 brilliant. The young are browner in colour than the 

 female, and the eye-stripe is buffish. 



