. Birds of Britain . slightlyspotted. This bird is generally distributed throughout the BritishIsles, rarer in the north and resident in the warmer portionsof the south and west. WHITE WAGTAIL Motacilla alba, Linnaeus This is the Continental form of the preceding species,which passes through the country every year on migrationand occasionally stays to breed. In habits it is preciselysimilar to its congener the Pied Wagtail. It may be dis-tinguished by its rather lighter colour, and in summerit retains the light grey back but assumes the blackchin. The females, however, of our own species frequ
. Birds of Britain . slightlyspotted. This bird is generally distributed throughout the BritishIsles, rarer in the north and resident in the warmer portionsof the south and west. WHITE WAGTAIL Motacilla alba, Linnaeus This is the Continental form of the preceding species,which passes through the country every year on migrationand occasionally stays to breed. In habits it is preciselysimilar to its congener the Pied Wagtail. It may be dis-tinguished by its rather lighter colour, and in summerit retains the light grey back but assumes the blackchin. The females, however, of our own species frequently do notassume a black back, so that the colour of the back whenseen in the field will not be sufficient to identify this it can be closely compared it may always be re-cognised by the clearer grey of the back and pure greyupper tail coverts. In the Pied Wagtail the mantle has agreenish tinge, and the proximal tail coverts are nearlyblack. Length 7*5 in.; wing 35 in. 88 GREY WAGTAILMotacilla melanope. Grey WagtailGREY WAGTAIL AlotacIIIa melanope, Pallas The Grey Wagtail is a close inhabitant of rocky streams,and we have to go to the more mountainous parts of ourislands to find this species • at home. Like the Pied Wagtail it is a partial migrant, seeking thewarmer portions in the south and west during the winter andmoving back to the same rushing streams with the return ofspring. The nest is placed in one of the loose stone walls socommon near its haunts, or on the ground in some cleft ofthe rocks. The eggs resemble those of the Yellow Wagtail,but are slightly larger. It is a very handsome bird, the handsomest perhaps ofall our Wagtails. The back and upper parts are of a deepbluish grey: wings and tail (except the two outer feathers,which are white, a characteristic of all wagtails), dark brown ;under parts clear lemon yellow, paler on the vent. Length7 in.; wing 3 3 in. Female and young resemble the male, but are paler. Insummer the male has a jet black gorg
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