THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



131 



BRITISH BIRDS, 

 THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



By S. L. Mosley. 

 Genus VIII. Motacilla Linn. 



Motacilla. — A Wagtail. 



This genus is characterised by the great 

 length of tail, being as long, and in some 

 species even longer than the rest of the 

 body. In the wings the first and second 

 quill feathers are nearly of equal length, 

 and then gradually becoming shorter down 

 to the eighth. The legs are rather long and 

 slender; the bill slender, of moderate 

 length, and with a distinct angular ridge 

 down the centre of the upper mandible. 



In habits they are fond of the immediate 

 vicinity of water, and are constantly in 

 motion, their movements being performed 

 by running and walking, and not by hopping 

 or jumping, as in the case of many other 

 small birds, and seldom perching. They 

 have also the peculiar habit of moving the 

 tail up and down, more especially when 

 they first alight, which habit has doubtless 

 given them their popular name of Wagtail. 

 They differ considerably in their summer 

 and winter plumage. 



Their food consists of insects. 



The nest is either placed upon the ground, 

 or on the ledge crevice or rock, or simi- 

 lar situation. 



The eggs of the British species are of two 

 kinds, either white with lead colour spots, 

 or straw colour with olive spots, very 

 obscure, and almost or entirely burying the 

 ground colour. 



We have three species native of this 

 country, one black and white, and two 

 yellow, two of them common, and the other 

 not rare but local. Three others are 

 recorded as visitors. 



57- PIED WAGTAIL. 

 Motacilla Yarellii, Gould. 

 Yarrellii.— In honour of Mr. Yarrell. 



Size. — Length nearly y% inches; Ex- 

 panse ii inches. 



Plumage. — The adult male in summer 

 has the bill black. Eyes dark brown ; 

 forehead white, the white extending over 

 and under the eye down each side of the 

 neck as far as the shoulders. Nape, back 

 of neck and back black ; in some specimens, 

 probably old male birds, the centre of the 

 back is slaty grey. Wings sooty black, the 

 edges of the secondaries, greater and lesser 

 wing coverts broadly margined with white. 

 Outer tail coverts margined on the outer 

 edge with white. Tail, centre black, the 

 two outer feathers white, except a portion 

 of the inner web. Throat and breast black, 

 belly white, slaty grey at the sides. Thighs 

 sooty black, legs black. Under tail coverts 

 white. 



In winter the black on the throat dis- 

 appears, and the part becomes white, leav- 

 ing a black crescent across the breast, the 

 horns of which point upwards towards the 

 eye. 



The Female resembles the male, and 

 passes through the same changes of plumage. 



Immature birds are similar to the adult 

 in winter, but the throat and sides of the 

 neck are tinted with yellow. 



Varieties. — Some authors regard the 

 White Wagtail (AT. alba) as a form, or 

 rather the type of this species, but it will be 

 treated as distinct among the accidental 

 visitors. The chief points of distinction are 

 that in alba the white on the side of the 

 neck joins that upon the breast, and the 

 back is light bluish grey. Many specimens of 

 Yarrellii have the back rather light, but the 

 upper tail coverts are always black, while 

 in alba they are bluish grey. Many very 

 striking accidental varieties exist in collec- 

 tions. Mr. F. Bond, F.Z.S. has one with 

 the head entirely white, and another in 

 which all the colours are very pale, killed 

 near Lewes. Mr. J. Whitaker, F.Z.S. 



