364 MOTACI JLLIDÆ.
which has, doubtless, contributed to the confusion,) is, that
the female of our Pied Wagtail never has the back black, as
in the male, this part, even in summer, being dark grey, in
which respect it closely resembles the other species.”
Such are the observations of Mr. Gould, and although
concurring with him in opinion that these birds are distinct,
it is intended here to give figures and descriptions, as far as
requisite, of both birds in their summer and winter plumage,
to invite investigation on this subject; premising that M.
Temminck, in the Supplement to his Manual, page 171,
refers to Mr. Gould’s figure in the Second Part of the Birds
of Europe, and also to the coloured lithographic figure in
Werner’s Atlas of Illustrations to the Manual, which, although
there called Motacilla lugubris, is certainly our
Pied Wagtail, as representations of varieties of Motacilla
alba. The Prince of Musignano has considered our bird
distinct from M. alba, and has admitted it as a species in
his recently published Geographical and Comparative List of
the Birds of Europe and North America.
The Pied Wagtail of this country, though a very common
bird, is deservedly admired for the elegance of its form, as
well as for the activity and airy lightness exhibited in all its
actions. I t is ever in motion, running with facility by a
rapid succession of steps in pursuit of its insect food, moving
from place to place by short undulating flights, uttering a
cheerful chirping note while on the wing, alighting again on
the ground with a sylph-like buoyancy, and a graceful fanning
motion of the tail from which it derives its name. It
frequents the vicinity of ponds and streams, moist pastures,
and the grass plots of pleasure-grounds ; may be frequently
seen wading in shallow water, seeking for various aquatic
insects, or their larvse ; and a portion of a letter sent me
lately by William Rayner, Esq. of Uxbridge, who keeps a
variety of birds in a large aviary near his parlour window for
the pleasure of observing their habits, seems to prove that
partiality to other prey, besides aquatic insects, has some influence
in the constant visits of Wagtails to water. “ I
had also during the summer and autumn of 1887 several
Wagtails, the Pied and Yellow, both of which were very
expert in catching and feeding on minnows which were in a
fountain in the centre of the aviary. These birds hover over
the water, and, as they skim the surface, catch the minnow
as it approaches the top of the water in the most dexterous
manner, and I was much surprised at the wariness and cunning
of some Blackbirds and Thrushes in watching the Wagtails
catch the minnows, and immediately seizing the prize
for their own dinner.”
The nest of our Pied Wagtail is formed of moss, dead
grass, and fibrous roots, lined with hair and a few feathers ;
the nest is sometimes placed on the ground on a ditch bank,
sometimes in a hole of a wall, or thatch of an out-building,
and it is frequently fixed in the side of a wood stack, or hay