RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Motacilla alba Europe. CUL-DAR205.5.8. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 1.2023. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR205.5 contains notes on the principle of divergence, transitional organs and instincts.
Motacilla alba is the white wagtail.
[8]
Motacilla alba. Europe (1)
— Yarrell's England & Norway (2)
In summer when (of latter) when breast black, so is the back in male = in female has breast black, back lighter—latter, or how English kind rather larger, more hav white on the wing, but not so much as in Lugubris (& third continental species) & (latter common eastern portions of Europe & India.─) long lugubris black spot behind beak, & lore of eye.— lugubris well marked species
Slight difference of beak
M. neglecta─ England & flava─ Continent} peculiarities of Plumage—}
(11)
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 2 March, 2023