A History of North American Birds; Land Birds; Vol. 1 of 3

by Spencer Fullerton Baird; T. M. Brewer; Robert Ridgway

10. Helmitherus vermivorus, Gm. Pa., 2148.

Subfamily MOTACILLINÆ.

Genus MOTACILLA, Linn.

Motacilla, Linn. Syst. Nat. (Type, Motacilla alba.)

The diagnosis already given of Motacilla will serve to define it. The genus is an Old World one, represented by several species, only one of which (M. alba) is entitled to a place here from occurring in Greenland.

Motacilla alba, Linn.

WHITE WAGTAIL.

Motacilla alba, Linn. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. 1766, 331.—Keys. & Blas. Wirb. Europ. 1840, xlix, and 174.—Degland, Orn. Europ. I, 1849, 433.—Reinhardt, Ibis, 1861, 6 (Greenland).—Newton, Baring-Gould’s Iceland, 1863, App. (“rather plentiful”).—Baird, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 152.