5 
which I found breeding in the vicinity of Uleaborg were certainly Motacilla viridis, and not the 
present species. In Northern Russia the present species is also replaced by Motacilla viridis’ 
but Motacilla flava is common, and generally distributed during the summer season in Central 
Russia, the Baltic Provinces, and Poland; and Borggreve says that it is a summer visitant in 
North Germany, frequenting the marshy plains, but it is commoner in the east, and avoids 
mountainous districts. Mr. Benzon informs me that it arrives in Denmark late in April or early 
in May, and leaves late in September or early in October. Its common Danish name is, he says, 
Gul Vipstjert ; but it has also many provincial names—such as Gul-Havrevippe, Gul-Havrestjert, 
Smorfugl, Gulspink, Engfugl, and Majfugl. As above stated it is said not to be so numerous in 
Western as in Eastern Germany; but Mr. Sachse informs me that it is found at Altenkirchen, 
in Rhenish Prussia, during passage in May and in September or October, but rarely remains to 
breed there, though he has occasionally observed a pair or two during the summer season; but 
on the banks of the Rhine it is not so uncommon. It is said by Baron De Selys-Longchamps to 
be tolerably numerous in Belgium, where it arrives in April, breeds, and leaves in September. 
Mr. Labouchere informs me, however, that it is nowhere very abundant in Holland, where it 
also nests in the swampy meadows. Von Droste says that Van Wickevoort Crommelin found a 
pair breeding near Haarlem, the male of which was a Ray’s Wagtail, which is very rare in 
Holland, and the female a Grey-headed Wagtail. He adds that J. fava breeds commonly in 
the Island of Borkum, but that he only observed a couple of specimens of J. viridis during 
passage, and he does not refer to W/. ravi as being found there. In France the present species 
is common from April to November; and Dr. E. Rey found it numerous everywhere in Portugal, 
but especially so in Algarve. In Spain it is common; and Colonel Irby says (Orn. Str. Gibr. 
p- 109) that it is “ found on both sides of the straits in great abundance ; the earliest that I saw 
it was on the 20th and 24th February (in different years), many appearing on the 25th. From 
that time to the 20th of April they continued to pass; and on that date I saw great numbers at 
Gibraltar resting on the ‘ flats’ at Europa after their flight across the sea. They leave in August 
and September.” Colonel Irby speaks of it as Budytes flavus vel cinereocapillus (1. e. viridis); 
Mr. Saunders, who states (Ibis, 1871, p. 215) that he “ obtained several nests with parent birds 
in the Seville and Malaga markets,” adds that it appears to belong to the variety cinereocapilla 
of Savi; but against this I may remark that almost all the specimens from Spain I have examined 
are referable to the present species, though it is true that IV. viridis also occurs there, for Mr. 
Saunders has sent me a Spanish-killed specimen of the latter species. 
Passing eastward, again, I find it recorded as being common in Savoy; and I have received 
numerous specimens from Italy, where it is said to be generally distributed, especially in the 
Romagna and Piedmont; and Bettoni inserts it in his list of species which breed in Lombardy. 
Tn Sicily it is also common, and some few remain there throughout the winter; and in Malta, 
Mr. C. A. Wright states (Ibis, 1864, p. 62), “it commences arriving in flocks about the middle 
of March, and is seen again in September.” Dr. Kriiper says that it occurs only in the spring 
and autumn passage in Greece, but does not appear to breed there. Dr. Fritsch says (J. f. O. 
1857, p. 192) that it occurs in Southern Germany along the Elbe; and some years ago it was 
common between Kuchelbad and K6nigssaal, but in the autumn its numbers are increased 
2E2 
265 
