WHITE WAGTAIL.
G R E Y A N D W H I T E W A G T A I L.
Motacilla alba,
Motacilla Brissoni,
LlNNJEUS. GMELIN.
MACGILLIVRAY.
Motacilla—A Wagtail. Alba—White.
As stated in the previous article, these two supposed species of
Wagtail have only lately been considered as such, having been
previously, and, as is thought, erroneously, combined under one. I
will not pass a decided opinion upon the subject—the imagined
differences will appear in the specific description, but I must observe
that some degree of uncertainty even still prevails. Thus Mr.
Macgillivray, usually so scrupulously accurate, in treating of the
present bird, quotes Mr. Gould as saying that it, the Lhrneean
one, has never yet been discovered in any part of England, yet
Mr. Macgillivray is himself describing it as a sufficiently plentiful
species at the time; and then, nevertheless, after so saying, he gives
his own description from continental specimens. So again, Mr.
Yarrcll says that 'although' believing the birds to be distinct, he
gives figures and descriptions of 'both;' and then follows, with the
figure of the Pied Wagtail, one of the Continental White Wagtail,
which, he says, he has very little doubt 'will be' occasionally found
in this country. All this seems like 'confusion worse confounded;'
and I cannot with truth profess to be able to sec my way very
clearly. In the last edition however, he gives it. The Prince of
Musignano considers that two distinct species exist.
This bird is found over the whole of the continent of Europe,
taking there the place, as regards numbers, which the Pied Wagtail
holds with us, the latter being the less common species there, as
the former is here. It is plentiful from Iceland, Sweden, and Norway,
to Malta and Sicily, Crete and Corfu; and is also a native of Asia
and of Africa.