183 
THE PIED AND WHITE WAGTAILS IN NOTTS. 
F. B. WHITLOCK, 
Beeston, Notts. 
Reapers of ‘The Naturalist’ who also see the ‘The Zoologist,’ 
will remember a recent paper by Mr. O. V. Aplin on the Grey and 
White Wagtails in Oxfordshire. 
In his interesting paper, Mr. Aplin records the interbreeding of the 
Pied and White Wagtails (Motacilla yarrelli and M. alba) as observed 
by him in Oxfordshire in June last. s I had reasons to suspect 
a similar case having occurred in this neighbourhood, I resolved to 
keep a sharp look-out for the White Wagtail in the coming season 
of 1891. Certain remarks of Mr. Aplin’s, relating to the amount of 
grey and black to be found in the breeding plumage of the female 
Pied Wagtail, determined me also to examine all individuals of that 
species which should happen to come under my notice. 
In previous years I have paid most attention to the various small 
waders which visit the Trent valley on their migrations, rather to the 
neglect of the Wagtails, which are so numerously represented ; and 
though I have long suspected the White Wagtail to be a regular 
visitor in small numbers, it was not until April last year that I fully 
identified it. 
In the present year but few migrants had arrived by the middle 
of April, the weather being unfavourable. The r8th April, however, 
was warm, with light S. to S.W. winds, and in the evening I saw the 
first Swallow (Hirundo rustica). Knowing there would be an arrival 
of Yellow and Pied Wagtails, I was early abroad the following 
morning. Arriving at the river, I found my surmises were correct, 
amany  rayii and M. yarrellii appearing on the margins of the 
stream. Taking my boat, I rowed up the stream, examining such 
birds as attracted my attention, with the aid of my glass. It was not 
until I had rowed about three miles that my patience was rewarded. 
I was watching a Common Sandpiper (Zvingvides hypoleucos) feeding 
on a sand-bank on the opposite side of the Trent, when several very 
light-coloured Wagtails caught my eye, and though they were sixty 
yards off, I had little doubt that I had met with a little flock of 
White Wagtails. After watching them through my glass for some 
time, I rowed my boat over to the other side of the river to get 
a better view, and though I found them rather wary, I was able to 
identify them with certainty. Their notes were different from those 
of the Pied Wagtail, and I fully agree with the authors of the ‘ Birds 
of Cumberland,’ who write :—‘ It has always seemed to us that the 
call-note of the White Wagtail was softer and less incisive than that 
June 1891. 
