218 MOTACILLID.E. 



THE WHITE WAGTAIL. 



Motacilla alba, Linn., Gould. 

 „ „ Yarr* 



Is believed to be at least an occasional visitant. 



It is included on the following testimony. In a letter to me from 

 Mr. R. Ball, dated Dublin, June the 19th, 1 846, it was stated, that 

 a few days before, when at Roundwood, he had seen a specimen 

 of the true Motacilla alba, as distinguished from M. Tarrellii. 

 He remarked: — "We watched it for some time, though at a 

 short distance from us, with a small telescope used for such pur- 

 poses; its beautiful plumage was very distinct from that of the 

 common species, and its habit much more sedate than is usual with 

 wagtails : it ' wagged ' but little, and walked about demurely. — I 

 am quite sure that I have often seen the species before." As the 

 bird was not actually obtained, its occurrence would not be in- 

 serted here, without my having perfect reliance on the knowledge, 

 and acute observation, of my informant. The preceding note was 

 communicated to the Annals of Natural History, vol. xviii. p. 311 

 (1846). Mr. R. Chute, of Blennerville, co. Kerry, had written to 

 me in Eeb., 1846, that he believed this species was found there. 



This wagtail has only for the last few years been known as 

 British, from specimens obtained at Kingsbury, Carlisle, and 

 Falmouth. (Yarr., B. B. i. 404.) 



GREY WAGTAIL. 



Yellow wagtail (popularly in Ireland). 



Motacilla boarula, Linn. 



This beautiful and graceful species, though much less 

 common than the pied wagtail, is extensively, but 

 not universally, distributed over Ireland. 



About the rocky islets off the coast, where the pied wagtail is 



* Brit. Birds, Supp., p. 22, and vol. i. p. 403, 2nd edit. 



