404 MOTACILLID ®. 
which is now in the possession of T. C. Heysham, Ksq., 
and during the month of April 1843 I received one and 
heard of two others that were obtained by Mr. James J. 
Tratham, in the vicinity of Falmouth. Mr. Bond also told 
me, in the spring of 1843 that he had again seen one 
example near the Kingsbury Reservoir. 
That this species is the true Motacilla alba of Linneus 
the coloured figures and descriptions of Swedish and other 
continental authors, leave no room to doubt, and when the 
subject has been further investigated, it will probably be 
found that the present species, the true Motacilla alba, and 
therefore called the White Wagtail, is only a summer 
visitor to Britain, while many of the better known Pied 
Wagtail remain with us all the year; their numbers, how- 
ever, receiving an increase by visitors from the continent 
every spring. A. EH. Knox, Esq., who is well located on 
our southern coast for observations on the migratory birds, 
and bestows time and great attention to the subject, says, 
that wagtails arrive on the coast of Sussex by the beginning 
of March, and generally during a gentle wind from the 
south. It is probable that both species on their arrival are 
less distinct in colour than they are afterwards at a later 
period, and Mr. Knox observes that the Pied Wagtails on 
their arrival are farther advanced towards the plumage 
peculiar to the breeding-season, than those which have 
remained in this country all the previous winter. The 
permanent pearl grey or light ash grey of the whole of the 
back in the White Wagtail bemg the most obvious dis- 
tinction. 
The habits of the two species in this country are probably 
very similar, or rather it may be more correct to say have 
not as yet been distinguished, and I quote M. Temminck’s 
manual for those of the continental Motacilla alba, where it 
