MOTACILLID.E. 
20() 
coast, flying directly from the south, and from such a distance 
at sea as, at first, to be scarcely perceptible ; gradually, 
however, becoming more distinct, until they alighted near me 
on the open shore, sometimes singly, and at other times in 
small parties. 
“ The fields, in the neighbourhood of the coast, where but 
a short time before scarcely an individual was to be found, 
are soon tenanted by numbers of this species ; and for several 
days they continue dropping on the shores in detached parties. 
The old male birds arrive first, presenting the beautiful jet 
black and pime white plumage of the breeding season ; while 
the females, and the males of the preceding year, which re¬ 
semble the females, the plumage on the back being of an 
iron grey, do not make their appearance until a few days 
afterwards. It may be observed that the white on the fore¬ 
head and cheeks of these newly arrived birds is much more 
pure at this time than in those which winter in England, 
and altogether they have a fresher, and, as it were, a cleaner 
appearance than they themselves present, a short time after 
their arrival in this country. 
“ Some of the old males appear to have paired before their 
departure from the Continent; for after alighting on the 
shore, they exhibit many signs of restlessness and anxiety ; 
performing short flights, and incessantly calling for their 
mates. 
“ It is worthy of remark that those Pied Wagtails which 
remain with us during the wdnter, do not assume the summer 
garb at so early a period as their travelled brethren ; indeed, 
on the arrival of the latter, who invariably make their appear¬ 
ance in the full breeding plumage, the former have but par¬ 
tially commenced the change, a few black patches beginning 
to appear on the throat, and the light grey of the back being 
varied with occasional feathers of a darker hue. In about a 
fortnight afterwards this assumption of the breeding plumage 
