Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/278

246 confident that it was the rare Wagtail; but, to be certain of its identity, I sent the specimen to my old friend the late Dr. J.R. Harvey, of Cork, and he wrote to say that he "had no doubt of its being the true M. alba, but that, unfortunately, it had been so long delayed in the Post Office, that on its arrival it was unfit for preservation, and to his great disappointment the specimen was lost."

For several years after nothing more was seen or heard of the White Wagtail, until April 29th, 1893, when visiting Bartragh with some friends, we met a pair of Wagtails feeding on a little wet flat piece of sand at the base of the sand-hills, and about 300 yards from where I shot the bird in 1851. These birds walked about quietly, with none of the restlessness of the common species, for probably they were tired after their long flight from Spain or Africa. After observing them for some time with my glass, and admiring their lovely plumage, I shot one, the other bird flying right off out of our sight, and we did not see it again. This specimen is now in the collection of the Museum of Science and Art, Dublin.

Having shown the bird to Mr. A.C. Kirkwood (who resides on the island), I asked him to keep a sharp look-out for these Wagtails every season during the month of April; and last season, towards the end of that month, he observed a beautiful bird in the light grey plumage, a short distance from the place where I met the pair in 1893. After looking at it for some time with his glass, he went for his gun, but in the meantime a heavy rainfall coming on drove it away to shelter, and when he returned to the place the bird had disappeared. However, this season he was more fortunate, for on two occasions he met the White Wagtail on the island, and obtained three specimens out of each flock.

He met the first lot of five birds on April 30th, feeding in a field lately sown with oats, and his attention being attracted by their light grey backs and white cheeks, he brought his glass to bear on them, observing them for a long time, as they (like the birds previously seen) walked quietly about the field, with none of the restlessness so constantly shown by the common Wagtails. He then got his gun and shot three fine birds, which he kindly brought to show me. One, a perfect type of the