316 WAGTAIL. 



Die weisse Backstelze, Natitrf. xvii. 102. Schmid, Vog. p. S6. t. 71. 



La Lavandiere, Buf. v. 251. t. 14. 1. PL enl. 652. f. 1. Hist. Prov.'x. 496. 



Hoche-queue noire et blanche, Ferm. Surin. ii. 183 ? 



Coda tremola, Zinnan. Uov. 51. t. 7. f. 38. 



Ballarina, Olin. Uc. t. p. 43. 



Bachstelzen, Gunth. Nest. u. Ey.2b. 1. 1 — up. fig-. Wirs. Vog. t. 21. 



White Wagtail, tan. Syn. iv. 395. Id. Sup. 178. /d. Stip. ii. 230. Br. Zoo/, i. No. 



142. pi. 55. Id.fol. 104. Id. Ed. 1812. i. p. 4S0. pi. 62. Arct. Zool. ii. 396. B. 



Will. Engl. p. 237. pi. 42. Coffin*, £ir<&, pi. 11. f. 1. 2. Albin, i. pi. 49! SAaiu'.s 



Zoo/, x. 545. Bewick, i. pi. 18S. Leioin's Birds, iii. pi. 95. Walcot's Birds, ii. 



pi. 226. Pult. Dors. p. S. Donov. Birds, \. pi. 5. 2Vat. Mac. pi. 207. Graves's 



Br. Om. Om. Diet. 



THE length of this bird is seven inches, of which the tail is one 

 half Bill and legs black ; irides hazel ; hind part of the head, and 

 nape of the neck black ; forehead, round the eyes, and sides of the 

 neck white; chin, fore part of the neck, and breast black; upper 

 parts of the body, lesser wing coverts, and rump cinereous, or dusky 

 black; greater wing coverts and second quills dusky, edged with 

 grey ; the greater blackish ; the second and prime quills nearly of 

 the same length ; lower part of the breast and belly white ; the eight 

 middle tail feathers black, edged with grey ; the others white, except 

 at the tips of the inner webs, which are dusky. 



In the female, the top of the head is brown, and the general 

 plumage dusky where the male is black, inclining more to ash-colour 

 on the back and rump. 



This description is of the complete birds in their summer dress, 

 and from various observations it appears, that neither sex gains the 

 black about the head and throat the first season, but as spring comes 

 on, both gradually obtain it, and both equally lose it after incuba- 

 tion ; not, perhaps, wholly, for in old subjects some traces are visible 

 at most times, and under this mask have been described as different 

 birds. This circumstance likewise happens in respect to the Grey 

 Species, which is only met with in the Southern and Western parts of 

 England, in the winter months. 



