GREY WAGTAIL. 95 



GEEY WAGTAIL. 



Motacilla sulphurea. 



This is an autumn and winter visitant to this county, dis- 

 appearing about the middle of March, very few remain- 

 ing to breed, the greater number leaving in April, when it 

 is assuming its breeding-plumage, and passing to the north 

 or westj returning late in August or early in September, 

 generally in little family parties, when the main body cross 

 the sea, though a few remain during the winter. From its 

 partiality to rapid, clear, and rocky streams, Sussex is little 

 adapted to its habits. It delights in wild secluded spots, 

 and never frequents ploughed or grass lands unless they are 

 water-meadows. 



As it cannot be called a common bird, I think it worth 

 while to mention the few specimens which have fallen under 

 my own observation. The first notice I have is, that from 

 the 11th of November, 1840, one frequented my father's 

 garden at Henfield for a few days, running about the lawn 

 in pursuit, of insects, jumping up at them and taking them 

 on the wing, in the manner of the Pied Wagtail. Ou the 

 8th of May, 1841, I saw two which had been shot near Firle 

 in nearly full summer plumage, and two others obtained in 

 the same neighbourhood about the same time. In March 

 1844 one appeared for a few days, at a spring in a tanyard 

 at Henfield. On the 10th of March in the same year I saw, 

 at a birdstufEer's at Lewes, two more which had been shot 

 on the level near that town, also in the same plumage. In 

 May 1845, 1 observed a male in full breeding-dress, at a little 

 runlet of water by the roadside at Ashington. On two or 

 three occasions a single bird has appeared at my own house 

 at Cowfold, running about on a flat-roofed verandah^ and 



