MOTACILLA. 329 



which had been confined for three years, hatched a brood of young-. He 

 also says, they have bred in the menagerie of the Duchess Dowager of 

 Portland. 



As a further and more recent proof that this bird will breed in con- 

 finement, Lord Stanley assures us that a pair of grous, which had been 

 confined two years by a person who paid little attention to them, had 

 produced many eggs. This circumstance made his Lordship desirous 

 to obtain the birds, in which he succeeded, and in 1811 the female laid 

 ten eggs, which she incubated, and brought out eight young. These 

 infant birds, from some unknown cause, probably a defect of natural 

 food at that tender age, did not live many days. The old birds feed 

 on grain and oatmeal, like others of the gallinaceous tribe. They were 

 remarkably shy, and as little disturbed as possible, in order to induce 

 them to breed again. If ants' eggs, grasshoppers, and other insects, 

 cannot be procured in sufficient abundance, alum-curd, or hard-boiled 

 egg, as animal food, is perhaps as good a substitute for insects as can 

 be administered, and we recommend it to all persons who wish to rear 

 any young birds of a similar nature. But if grasshoppers can be ob- 

 tained, they are eagerly devoured, and for the first month the best 

 food that can be given. 



A mottled brown and white variety, very much resembling the sum- 

 mer plumage of the ptarmigan, was shot in Lancashire, in the month 

 of August, by Lord Stanley. And several other varieties are men- 

 tioned by Selby, of a cream or light grey colour, more or less spotted 

 with dark brown and black. 



This species is more of a true ancient Briton than any other of 

 which we can boast, and as such it ought to be protected and revered ; 

 for, strange as it may seem, it does not appear to have found its way 

 to any other part of the world, but is exclusively of British origin, and 

 continues wholly attached to the British Empire. Inhabiting the most 

 dreary and inhospitable parts of the three United Kingdoms, contented 

 with the native produce of such uncultivated regions, it never by choice 

 approaches the habitation of man, to riot in the fruits of his labour. 

 It has not even extended into the Shetland island, but has reached the 

 Orkneys, its utmost extent northwards.* 



MOOR TITLING. — A name for the Chickstone. 



MORILLON. — A name for the Golden-Eye. 



MORROT.— A name for the Guillemot. 



MOTACILLA (Latham.) — * Wagtail, a genus thus characterised. 

 Bill slender, straight, awl-shaped, keeled, notched, and describing an 

 angle upon the forehead ; cutting edges (tomia) of both mandibles 



