THE GRAY WAGTAIL, 
229 
“ The pied Wagtail of Europe ( Motacilla yarrellii ) is somewhat more robust in form, and 
in its full summer dress has the whole of the head, chest, and neck of a full, deep jet-black ; 
while in the White Wagtail ( Motacilla alba), at the same period, the throat and head alone 
are of this color ; the back and the rest of the upper surface being of a light ash-gray. In 
whiter the two species more nearly assimilate in their coloring, and this circumstance has 
doubtless been the cause of their being hitherto considered as identical ; the black back of 
Motacilla yarrellii being gray at this season, although never so light as Motacilla alba. An 
additional evidence of their being distinct (and which has doubtless contributed to the con- 
fusion) is, that the female of our pied Wagtail never has the beak black as in the male ; this 
part, even in summer, being dark gray, in which respect it closely resembles the other 
species.” Another distinction may be found in the shape of the beak, which is broader in 
the White than in the pied species. 
The White Wagtail is very common in France and the southern parts of Europe ; but, 
although it may be found plentifully on the shores of Calais, the narrow arm of the sea 
appears to be a boundary which it seldom passes. 
It is an occasional straggler in North America, and is therefore embraced in the catalogue 
of such birds. 
GRAY WAGTAIL . — Motacilla campestris ; and MEADOW PIPIT .— Anthus prate/isis. 
The G-eat Wagtail is a remarkably pretty and elegant example of this group of birds ; 
its plumage being delicately marked with various soft colorings, its shape slender and grace- 
ful, and its movements light and airy. 
This species is not quite so common as the pied Wagtail, and seems to migrate backwards 
and forwards in Europe according to the temperature. Of the far northern regions it is a 
