GREY-HEADED WAGTAIL. 413 
Mr. Gould very clearly proved what appears never to 
have been even suspected before, that the MW. flava of 
English authors was not only a different bird from the J. 
flava of Continental authors; but that our very common 
Yellow Wagtail was in fact as rare a bird, and as little 
known on the Continent, as the AZ. flava of the Continent 
was rare here. Those who contend that the trivial name 
given by the first describer of a species ought ever to 
remain unchanged, will still consider that our well-known 
Yellow Wagtail ought to continue to be called MW. flava, 
while those who consider systematic nomenclature as begin- 
ning with Linneus, will continue the term flava to the 
Grey-headed Wagtail of Mr. Gould. 
When the Grey-headed Wagtail was first named in this 
country, Mr. Gould, supposing this species had been equally 
overlooked on the Continent, called it Motacilla neglecta ; 
but further communication with Continental Ornithologists 
convincing him that it was the true 7. fava of Linneus, 
and subsequently of Continental authors, it became neces- 
sary that the term neglecta should be dropped in favour of 
that of fava, which it had so long borne ; and it was then 
considered that justice would also be done to Ray’s original 
notice of our yellow bird, if it was in future to be called 
Ray’s Wagtail. I have reason to believe that the applica- 
tion of the term Rayi, as appropriated to this bird in the 
comparative list of the Prince of Musignano, had Mr. 
Gould’s concurrence. 
The first British specimen of this bird, obtained in Octo- 
ber 1834, on Walton Cliffs, near Colchester, was shot by 
Mr. Henry Doubleday; two birds were together, and his 
attention was drawn to them by observing a pair so late in 
the season, and so long after our common Yellow Wagtail 
leaves this country. Only one of the two was secured. 
