F I E 3D) V A f rT À IL <,
Motacilla alba, CZirvroJ.
OsiN, C h a k . Beak jÄ |||i |^ ' eylknlric, s tra ig h t j flic xipj>er mandible au g u la ted b e tw e en th e
norttyte, its tip b c ird a ted . Scapwlary1-- ftailber» long, H in d claw »b o iter th an th e toe,
n e a rly straig h t. Tard eteviitodL Twf elongated.
F t E D W A G T A I L .
Motacilla alba, (jinn.
ha BergeroitHté grisur,
Tkk birds supplying the subpwu. of cor present iwfthrm, ihmigb very common, are general favourites: their
form is slender and elegant she«*- habits iBofRwisiw, aad all their varied iiiitfior»# so graceful and active as to
insure for them our nocice *#1 viMrard ; and the geaeric term applied to Omsuu, truly indicative as it is of one
of their very constant .¿«Äitos,. iff. most happily irh«vi<c«.
The whole Rif ,w grown male bird is ahoaK teven inches and a hall ; and in summer the upper
part of the hà#î| itfuid ii|ç hack, middle tdMhstfi^fs, chin, throat and breast, are black 5 the forehead,
the s|ww?kj- wMstki -tiw» üheeks, Tisiiij »M»»» of the heck white ; lower part of the breast, the belly and
i}iisd‘>'H' !;;!%' -’ifîi't!-. wtMfôft ; nbe danks gr ey v tomgdeathers black, with broad external edges of white forming
¡'Ai r i.'i ¡Hk! of the q»*H>4iMtKhc?,‘i i the two outer tail-feathers on each side white ; legs and
■feiiljli.; iiiliifiiv; .'lifti^ I?h<« ütvemlsng mvamml, a . »««wid moult takes place ; the chin and throat become white,
¡Îliîiiîpiiiigi;:"iiitjit!' ’'.*,♦• iîjif* 1‘Snck 5 abd ••mi the. upper parts of the neck and back are dark grey. In
thin ahm ahttmm during the wteRifcs*,. '*$■■ ill«' «ii^Hring spring bringing on a partial moult, invests it again
$jki Iir»t döteribed.
fMipitfj feted# *sf ¡he’ ycar haw ffelf mwtants.iff lifei: .uidaU (lie upper par*» »¿h-grey, inclining to blueisli
gi’iiyi; »¡Aig-covt: r t.s.Iwxswioljr odjréd .¡itiwl iitfijajfey ;-y ehe ¡^«rt breast. a creseenldiaped
patch of dusky ash, the ends of whicfi ¿¿iiiijiiiiiiij ‘•ip'-va-«#« et- u ttftritow ffete 0a ù-ü-'-b side of the neck ;
throat, cheeks, under parts of the neck and kwwr putt of the kveàst, därtj w lake. ; abdomen nearly pure white ;
quills blackish, with an oblong white spot on their inner web.
The old birds çltoosê vuriou» localities in which to place their liesjs. It is sometimes built on the ground,;
or in a bole in p. old Widl ; ¡«wociiin'ies on a grass-grown bank ; and we have found it, concealed
with great care, I’.» Mvprowèa« on ehe skie of a hflywicit. The nest is- formed of moss, dried grass, roots
.¡mf '»<;«'#, Amflü.ik i&ihiiiji d StStriMn-'s and hair : die .egg»,, feüä* ¡or !ips 01 imadicr, axe nine- lines and ft hàlfloBg
itteHw4th ; the: ground-colour greyish white, minutely specked all over -.viti» ashy
»iksdlow-streams stud ponds, and are often seen to wade a abort
wjdtfh' « Ihtwl. When Kite youaig are abb: to quit the mfcst, mfà.
ciiHjKttllsi'S \ ttertoWlied by
short pertes; and itefe •¡•.sienv:^ whiiii • y. ¡-iju •• tot jij - ü. (te 'enhtc. W !ith
the decline o f the y^ar Ivuids dw- ¿K-i.-rs* .¡s-dftiwï -dH-trtoks, sted resort m considerable
uumhe» to the atandiy Äsalflp ut rivers wiihia î-H-r. ba6o«*n.-t: o i v},»- tirios
The Pied Wagtail is common and stationary over the whole of the southern part of the European Continent.
I t also remains during wiuter dispersed over the southern counties of England f^yet've learn from Mr. Selby
and lie wick, that even so far north only as Durham, it migrates southward in October, -And <toes not again
make if* tsppisarance till fellowing March ; and Mr. Low in his Natural History of Orkney tells us, that
i t contihwto'ipW.k? the shortest time of any of the migratory birds that come to build, and is never to be seen,
after the tefctv, It Is also known to tntgraté still furtjte^r north ; but, .as might be expected« ifc-; IdglM'r
the degree o f ltihikfiv'te nttftined, the shorter is the duration of the risit.
M. ü.w. Äki*i«al of the HJrdx of Europe, inclades * wo sjiedes of Pied Wagtaiïsi- lhê Jf- Ajgisfirw
of Pallas, and lift; , |$K it0iId}Wi<ntk- WV havq been so dittep^iused hithe rto in our attem|<te to olitai« botih
djiecies from coiuasHi-'i •• wins, ill« siin-ial-M ¿nducc os r l (nteir •.•.• • im.-»-! •••. Ail vi-.
one o f its various «• ■■ .m* | | | | | dfltt the las« «litio» of the Fmrxi Mvàta- erintan» c»ty M.
The Wagtaik, as tte';}* ;>>«• tènood, are common to thé .IÀl Work!. India
snjndias sevc.ral 'spectMs f#' 'AîhiiliRÎy te:*embie those iuhahiring buroi;-;-,. ¡»3 to' fcaee been considered
only a» vwietitt«!, if nus f îué1 corttimeaits of Ainerie;*' howcvirr,, if we’recollect
righsly, baa as yet been 'asccrtained- to pin&wn a ;«|^R'^pçôS^(fc'of tame-
Onr Figures- repreitent two birds of tâ»! auxiprri ?(%:. i« Aie :>i winter wi^;i - v?,