120 CORRKSPONDENCE. 



To the Edilor of The Analyst, 

 Sib, 



Your correspondent S. D. W., in reply to my questions concern- 

 ing the names of two small migratory birds, agrees that I am right 

 in my conjecture that the first is the Red Lark, but that the second 

 is certainly no other than either the Yellow or Grey Wagtail. Now 

 I happen to know all the Wagtails i)erfectly well ; and I am cer- 

 tain that the yellow bird I have but imperfectly described is as dif- 

 ferent from the Yellow Wagtail as the latter is from the House 

 Sparrow. There is, indeed, some resemblance in the call of the two 

 birds; but the Yellow Wagtail has much more olive brown on the 

 back, is larger, and also much more elegant in shape, than the yel- 

 low bird I have for so many years noticed. Besides, it is never 

 seen near cattle, fly-catching, as the Wagtails frequently are ; but 

 in the midst of fields where neither men or cattle, of any kind, 

 resort. 



I applied to my friend Mr. Mudie for his opinion, but neither 

 himself nor his excellent volume could give any direct information. 

 Mr. Mudie could think of no other than the Yellow Wagtail as 

 any way answering to my description ; and as this seems also to be 

 the settled opinion of your correspondent, I take the liberty to re- 

 affirm what I have heretofore written of this nondescript, in order 

 that neither your correspondent or other ornithologist may deceive 

 themselves by the idea that I am mistaken. The bird may be met 

 with in the southern counties of England, in the months of June 

 and July, in fields of peas, tares, or other low growing crops. 



I am. Sir, your obedient servant, 



J. M. 



[The length of S. D. W.'s letter rendered its curtailment absolutely ne- 

 cessary. We would entreat our Correspondents to be as concise as the sub- 

 ject under discussion will allow, in order to relieve us from so onerous and 

 unpleasing a task as abridging their communicatioiis. — £d.] 



