THE GRAY If A G TAIL. 



229 



"The pied Wagtail of Europe {Motacilla yarrellii) is somewhat more robust in form, and 

 in its full summer dress has the whole of the head, chest, and neck of a full, deep jet-black ; 

 while in the White Wagtail {Motacilla alba), at the same period, the throat and head alone 

 are of this color ; the back and the rest of the upper surface being of a light ash-gray. In 

 winter the two species more nearly assimilate in their coloring, and this circumstance has 

 doubtless been the cause of their being hitherto considered as identical; the black back of 

 Motacilla yarrellii being gray at this season, although never so light as Motacilla alba. An 

 additional evidence of their being distinct (and which has doubtless contributed to the con- 

 fusion) is, that the female of our pied Wagtail never has the beak black as in the male ; this 

 part, even in summer, being dark gray, in which respect it closely resembles the other 

 species." Another distinction may be found in the shape of the beak, which is broader in 

 the White than in the pied species. 



The White Wagtail is very common in France and the southern parts of Europe ; but, 

 although it may be found plentifully on the shores of Calais, the narrow arm of the sea 

 appears to be a boundary wliich it seldom passes. 



It is an occasional straggler in North America, and is therefore embraced in the catalogue 

 of such birds. 



GRAY WAGTAIL.— Motacilla campeslris ; aud MEADOW PIPIT.— Anthas pratensis. 



The Gray Wagtail is a remarkably pretty and elegant example of this group of birds ; 

 its plumage being delicately marked with various soft colorings, its shape slender and grace- 

 ful, and its movements light and airy. 



This species is not quite so common as the pied Wagtail, and seems to migrate backwards 

 and forwards in Europe according to the temperature. Of the far northern regions it is a 



