168 
MOTACILLIDyE. 
/ iVSESSORES. MOTACILLIDJE. 
dentirohir.es. 
GREY-HEADED YELLOW WAGTAIL. 
Motacilla flava. 
PLATE XLII. FIG. II. 
Since the marks of difference which distinguish this 
species from the common yellow wagtail, with which we 
are so familiar, were first pointed out by Mr. Gould, 
several specimens have been met with in this country. 
My friend Mr. Henry Doubleday was the first to give 
it a place as a British bird, since which others have been 
killed near London, in Suffolk, Northumberland, and in 
Scotland. 
This species, being the true Motacilla flava of the Con¬ 
tinental naturalists, must retain the name. It is, there¬ 
fore, proposed that we should for the future know our 
Yellow Wagtail, which has become familiar to us under 
the name of M. flava , by that of Motacilla Rayi. 
To the late Mr. Hoy I am indebted for a nest, and 
a large series of the eggs of this species collected by 
him on the Continent, together with the following in¬ 
formation :— 
“ The M. flava arrives about the middle of April, and 
is then seen following the plough in search of insects. It 
differs from the yellow wagtail in its breeding-places; 
whilst our species most commonly makes its nest in dry 
situations in corn-fields, the continental species prefers 
low wet lands, placing its nest upon the ground in 
marshes, by the side of ditches in meadows, on the 
