MOTACILLIDAE—WAGTAILS.
97
though I have never personally identified it with certainty, and the
only actual record of its appearance here I have been able to meet
with is the following :
Mr. Joseph Clarke, writing at Saffron Walden about 1845, says (24) of the
"Pale Wagtail, Mot. alba, Tem.," that it "breeds here occasionally. A whole
brood of five, with the old one feeding them, seen at Wenden, 1836, by S. Salmon
and self." It has also been known to breed in several other southern counties.
Canon Babington says (46. 248) that two specimens, one in winter, the other
in summer plumage, which " were in all probability obtained in the neighbour-
hood of Sudbury," are in the King Collection, passing as Pied Wagtails.
Pied Wagtail: Motacilla lugubris. Locally, " Nanny Wag-
tail," and " Dish-washer."
A common resident, though partially migratory, most of our
birds going south dur-
ing winter.
Mr. Buxton says (47.
89) that in Epping Forest
it is " a common resident."
He adds : " The greater
number go south, to return
about the end of February,
dressed in their summer
plumage. Those that re-
main with us, retain their
winter garb until the spring is farther advanced." Many certainly do leave us in
winter, but not all, as I saw one here on December 8th, 1879, the day after the
very severe frost. Mr. E. Gottwaltz records (29. Feb. 5, 1876) that for three
winters one amused itself almost daily by tapping on a window of a house at
Great Baddow, a strange proceeding which has before been recorded of this and
other species.
Grey Wagtail: Motacilla melanope.
An uncommon autumn and winter visitor. I have no knowledge
of its having ever bred with us.
Mr. Seebohm says (45. ii. p,
204) :
" I first became acquainted with
these charming birds in the neigh-
bourhood of Saffron Walden. Be-
tween this town and Audley End
lies Lord Braybrooke's Park. A
winding brook runs through it, by
the margin of which you might
stroll any winter's morning with
the certainty of seeing one or two
pairs of Grev Wagtails. They
were regular winter migrants, ap-
pearing about the beginning of
October and disappearing as regu-
larly towards the end of March."