Birds. 137 



dents may be able to aid in the solution of the question, as well as to 

 suggest the cause of the frequent dartings against the window. — A. 

 Holland ; Stratford-on-Avon, March 8, 1843. 



[The bird meant is evidently tlie grey wagtail {MotacULa hoarula). A person here 

 was greatly annoyed by one of the same species flying against the window in the man- 

 ner described by your correspondent, from the dirt it left on the glass. I have no doubt 

 it fancied it saw insects. — H. Douhleday], 



Notes on the Birds of Sussex. By A. E. Knox, Esq., M.A. 



The geographical position of Sussex, as a southern maritime coun- 

 ty, is particularly favourable for observations on the distribution and 

 migration of many of our birds of passage : and I have availed myself 

 of the opportunity afforded by a residence of some years, and frequent 

 visits at all seasons to different parts of the coast, to pay much atten- 

 tion to this interesting subject. 



Tlie Pied IVagtail. — During the course of my observations I was 

 struck by the incorrectness of the received opinion that our pied wag- 

 tail is migratory only in the northern, but stationary in the southern 

 counties of England. This discovery led to another consideration. 

 Mr. Gould, in his work on the birds of Europe, has separated the pied 

 wagtail which occurs on the continent from the British species, dis- 

 tinguishing the latter as Motacilla Yarrellii, and the former as the true 

 Motacilla alba of Linnaeus ; and he supposes the channel to be the 

 line of demarcation between the habitats of the two species. 



Mr. Yarrell, in his admirable work on British birds, while coincid- 

 ing for the present in Mr. Gould's views, has declined to give a de- 

 cided, or rather a final opinion of his ow'n, but has quoted Mr. Gould's 

 observations, and added illustrations of the two species; and with 

 that impartiality which is an invariable accompaniment of true genius, 

 has invited the notice of future observers to the subject. 



Whatever, therefore, may be my view s as to the accuracy of this 

 specific distinction, I am anxious to abstain from expressing an opin- 

 ion at variance w ith such high authority, preferring that others should 

 draw their own conclusions from my observations, which I trust may 

 be found to throw some light on the subject, or at least to elucidate 

 a portion of the history of one of our most beautiful birds. 



The pied wagtail arrives from the continent on the shores of Sussex 

 about the middle of March. i\.lthough several remain with us during 

 the winter, these bear but a small proportion to the numbers that visit 

 us in the spring. On fine days during this month, with a gentle 



