252 DICTIONARY OF NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 
Storks “are said to live only in republics and free States ; 
but this we found by experience to be false, observing them 
in the Territories of some Princes in Germany. There is a 
tradition also that they feed and nourish their parents in 
their old age, when they are unable to seek their own food.” 
The latter belief, it may be remarked, is taken from Pliny. 
Wuaite-Tait: The WHEATEAR. (Provincial.) Cotgrave (1611) 
has “* Whittaile.” 
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE [No. 244]. The name occurs in Wil- 
lughby, who quotes Gaza’s name albicilla for it (on account 
of its white tail), which was retained by Linnzeus and modern 
authors. The white tail, however, is only to be found in 
the adult bird, and does not appear until it is six or seven 
years old. The immature bird in uniform dark plumage 
was originally described as a separate species under the 
name of Sea Hagle (Falco ossifragus of Linneeus). This is 
the “‘Sea Eagle or Osprey” of Willughby, the Sea Eagle 
of Pennant (fo. ed., 1766), and of Lewin, Latham, 
Montagu, etc. 
WHITETHROAT [No. 147]. This name, which occurs in 
Willughby (1678) and most subsequent authors, is derived 
from the white chin and throat. 
WHITE-THROATED BLACKBIRD: The RING-OUZEL. 
WHITETHROAT WARBLER: The WHITETHROAT. 
WHITE-TOPPED Heron: The NIGHT-HERON. (Hett.) 
WHITE WAGTAIL [No. 82]. The name White Wagtail first 
occurs in Willughby, who also names the species Motacilla 
alba, the distinctness of the PIED WAGTAIL not being 
recognised until 1832, by Gould. It seems probable that 
Willughby described an example of the true M. alba and 
not of M. lugubris, for he states that the middle of the back 
“inclines to cinereous ” and the white extends on the side 
of the neck “almost to the wings.” The name White 
Wagtail is of course used by all old British authors for the 
species now known as the Pied Wagtail. This bird 
seems to have been regarded as of medicinal value in former 
times, for Willughby gravely states that “One or two 
ounces of the powder of this bird put in a pot close-stopt 
and bak’d in an oven together with the feathers, taken in 
Saxifrage water, or strong White wine, is said to be good 
against the Stone, especially that of the kidneys.” 
WHITE-wALL: The SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. (Northants.) 
Waite Water Wactait: The PIED WAGTAIL. (Pennant.) 
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