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MOTACILLA ALBA, Linn.
White Wagtail.

Motacilla alba, Linn. Faun. Suec., p. 92.
cinerea, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 961.
albeola, Pall. Zoog. Ross.-Asiat., tom. i. p. 506.
albida, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 77.
Brissoni, Macgill. Man. Nat. Hist. Orn., vol. i. p. 160.

In size this elegant species differs but little from the Pied Wagtail, so common in our islands; but a
little attention to the colouring of adult examples in their summer dress will, I am sure, convince any one,
however sceptical, that the two birds are distinct, and not identical as has been affirmed. Had I seen
any variation in the colouring of continental specimens of Motacilla alba, or an approach to J. Yarrelli,
in the dark hue of their backs, or found any of our own birds assuming a delicate grey tint in that part of
their plumage, I should have come to a different conclusion. It is true that young examples of AZ. Yarrelli
may be found with a clouded grey upper surface; but I never saw one of so light a hue as a specimen of the
same age of JZ. alba, or so coloured that I could not at once unhesitatingly pronounce to which species
it belonged. In the investigation of this matter I have been greatly aided by the study of the Wagtails of
India, whose affinities ally them to each other in a similar way as those of Europe ; among them I find the
differences which exist are constant, and that a similar law prevails with the Jdotacille of both countries.
Nothing like a cross appears ever to take place among these nearly allied species—a circumstance which,
indeed, rarely occurs among birds in a state of nature. We have, then, but two alternatives—to keep them
all as one, or separate them according to their specific characters, however slight they may be. I shall follow
those of my contemporaries who adopt the latter view, not only in this group of birds, but in all others in which
I find certain characters are constant and unchanging.

The winter and summer changes of plumage of the JZ. alba are precisely similar to those which occur in JZ.
Yarreli. Both have the throat black in summer, and white in winter. I must remark, however, that the
fully adult examples of the former, at any period of the year, more closely assimilate in colouring than do the
adults of the latter, the females of which may be known by their back being of a lighter hue than the male’s.
It cannot be denied that there is a great difference in the habits and economy of the two species, the JZ.
Yarreli being stationary, and the JZ. alba regularly migrating to Norway and Sweden in spring, and
returning to more southern climes in autumn. In those countries the inhabitants regard its arrival
with joy as the harbinger of spring, and raise their hats to the first example that makes its appearance
there, just as people do in this country to the first Swallow they observe. Norway and Sweden, how-
ever, do not constitute the limit of its migration northwards ; for we learn from Walker’s ‘“ Ornitho-
logical Notes of the Voyage of the Fox,” published in the ‘ Ibis’ for 1860, that it visits Greenland ; and Mr.
Alfred Newton states, in his ‘Notes on the Ornithology of Iceland,’ that “ the White Wagtail (Motacilla
alba) is not quite so common as the Wheatear, but from its more familiar habits is more frequently observed,
arrives at the end of April, leaves in September.” Now is it not strange that a bird whose principal winter
home is the southern portion of Europe and North Africa, should only pay an occasional visit to the British
Islands, and rarely, if ever, remain to breed therein, when we know that it resorts for this purpose to countries
much further north? Is it because it finds our islands already occupied by another species, and that there
is no room for a second, and that, if it were to remain, it would be an interloper and interfere with nature’s
intentions ? as would be the result if foreign species were to be introduced into our island, or any other
country where nature had not placed them. Efforts respecting the re-introduction of such extirpated birds
as the Capercailzie and the Bustard are praiseworthy; for they were formerly inhabitants of this country,
and the attempts will be successful provided its physical condition remains unaltered.

I have never yet seen a true Motacilla alba from India, its presence there appearing to be supplied by the
M. Dukhunensis. Yt frequents, however, most of the countries along the shores of North Africa, bordering
the Mediterranean, and thence westward as far as the island of Madeira. It is also generally dispersed
over every part of Europe, but is most numerous in France, Holland, and Germany. That it winters on the
European shores of the Mediterranean is certain ; for I possess a specimen collected by my son, Dr. Franklin
Gould, during that season at San Remo, in the Maritime Alps. The following note was penned by myself during
a visit to Norway in 1856 :—* Motacilla alba is numerous in all but the higher parts of the country ; is very
tame in its disposition, and a great favourite with the inhabitants ; not so sprightly in its actions as the Eng-
lish AZ. Yarreli, and does not throw up its tail so violently.” In England J observed a beautiful freshly