42 BIRDS OF THE HUMBEB DISTRICT. 



night, leave the neighbourhood. In the summer of 

 1871 1 saw two varieties in this parish ; in both cases 

 the birds, which belonged to separate broods, were a 

 pale buff or cream colour, with the primaries and tail- 

 feathers two shades darker. 



69. MOTACILLA ALBA, Linnaeus. White Wagtail. 



Have on two or three occasions during the last ten 

 years met with specimens of this continental Wag- 

 tail on the north-east coast of Lincolnshire during 

 the period of the spring migration, at the time when 

 the Pied Wagtails arrive, namely the latter part of 

 March. In this little bird (which is very closely allied 

 to our familiar species) the black cap contrasts very 

 strongly with the light pearl-grey back ; there is also 

 much more white on the sides of the neck and flank 

 than in M. yarrelli; and it is altogether a whiter, 

 more delicate, and graceful-looking bird. When once 

 seen, it is readily distinguishable from either the male 

 or female of the pied species, even on the wing and 

 at some distance. 



70. MOTACILLA BOARULA, Latham. Grey Wagtail. 

 Provincial. Winter Wagtail. 



A regular winter visitant. This hardy and grace- 

 ful little fellow is seldom seen elsewhere than in the 

 immediate vicinity of running water, where it picks 

 up a subsistence even in the hardest seasons. Was 

 unusually plentiful in the severe winter of 1869-70. 



