62 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



Family MOTACILLIDJE. 



PIED WAGTAIL, Motacilla Yarrellii. A common 

 species, resident throughout the year. I am satisfied, 

 however, that the Pied Wagtail is partially migra- 

 tory ; for although common in summer, and most 

 numerous in autumn, when it may he observed in 

 small parties of seven or eight, yet very few are to 

 be seen here throughout the winter, and I have no 

 doubt that a great number of Pied Wagtails move 

 southwards as that season approaches. 



WHITE WAGTAIL, Motacilla alba. When we 

 consider that this bird is common on the opposite 

 shores of France, it is somewhat surprising that it 

 is not more numerous in England, especially when 

 we reflect how many short- winged birds, in migrating 

 here, cross a much larger tract of water than that 

 which separates us from France. But I have no 

 doubt that, owing to its close resemblance to the 

 Pied Wagtail, this species has been much over- 

 looked, and that it visits this country regularly 

 every summer in company with the numerous other 

 small birds which flock hither at that season. 



The following paragraph, relating to its occur- 

 rence in Middlesex, is extracted from 'Yarrell's 

 ' British Birds' (vol. i., pp. 428, 429). " It happened 

 that late in the month of May, 1841, my friend 

 Mr. Frederick Bond found two pairs of this White 

 Wagtail frequenting the banks of the Keservoir at 



