Birds of Britain 



and a stripe across the face being white. Length 7'3 in. ; 

 wing 3 "5 in. 



The young bird resembles the adult in winter, but 

 the white portions, especially on the throat and breast, 

 are tinged with yellowish and the breast is slightly 

 spotted. 



This bird is generally distributed throughout the British 

 Isles, rarer in the north and resident in the warmer portions 

 of the south and west. 



WHITE WAGTAIL 



Motacilla alba, Linnaeus 



This is the Continental form of the preceding species, 

 which passes through the country every year on migration 

 and occasionally stays to breed. In habits it is precisely 

 similar to its congener the Pied Wagtail. It may be dis- 

 tinguished by its rather lighter colour, and in summer 

 it retains the light grey back but assumes the black 

 chin. 



The females, however, of our own species frequently do not 

 assume a black back, so that the colour of the back when 

 seen in the field will not be sufficient to identify this species. 

 When it can be closely compared it may always be re- 

 cognised by the clearer grey of the back and pure grey 

 upper tail coverts. In the Pied Wagtail the mantle has a 

 greenish tinge, and the proximal tail coverts are nearly 

 black. Length 7*5 in. ; wing 3'5 in. 



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