BIRDS. 



97 



reaching the evergreens. They were very noisy before going to 

 roost. They began to come in the frosty evenings of early spring, 

 and many continued into summer." And Mr. M'Connochie asks if 

 this is a common experience. I have witnessed the same thing, but 

 not on so extensive a scale. 



Motacilla alba, L. White Wagtail. 



Not truly gregarious ; only "flighting." 



I cannot find any early positive evidence of the occurrence of this 

 species of Wagtail anyAvhere in the east.^ But Millais appears to have 

 met with it. He says : " A rare autumnal visitor on passage. I have 

 two which I killed at Monifieth in September 1886. It is evidently," 

 he continues, " more common than is generally supposed, but keeps 

 to the coast-lines of Scotland." I am inclined to regard the Con- 

 tinental White Wagtail — which is also a summer visitant to and 

 nesting in Iceland — as of more frequent occurrence, both in autumn 

 and spring migration, amongst our western islands and on our west 

 coast — at least to the north of Clyde and Forth — than it is any- 

 where upon our east coast north of the Tay estuary. 



But I have on two occasions in September seen a fine adult male 

 here, in company with Pied Wagtails — the two species simultaneously 

 under observation on the sill of my front library window, and within 

 four feet of where I am now writing (Forth). But I have never 

 seen them here in any quantity. 



Similarly, as regards occurrences of this Continental and Icelandic 

 species on our east coasts, Mr. Godfrey tells me (MS. in my posses- 

 sion) that he saw numbers of Wagtails in the east of Fife along the 

 shore, and suspected a proportion to belong to this species. But he 

 was satisfied regarding two adult White Wagtails — one at Kilwinning 

 (Forth) and one at Balcomie Links (Tay), on September 22, 1905. 

 Absolute records of White Wagtails from the east coast north of 

 Forth are, however, still desiderated. At Stravithie Mr. Godfrey 

 saw many typical black-backed {i.e. the Pied) birds. 



Motacilla melanope, Pall. Grey Wagtail. 



Eesident. Fairly general in distribution, but in very severe weather 

 shifts ground, and some undoubtedly migrate. In all or most of 

 such cases, both with this and many other birds, it will generally be 

 found that the young leave and the old birds remain, though often 

 the weather makes them " shift " also. In the central districts Horn 



^ The first record of it in Britain will be found in Yarrell's British Birds (1st 

 edition, in the first supplement, p. 23). 



G 



