22 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



It is found in woods and plantations throughout Great 

 Britain and Ireland, and is resident all the year round, 

 tliouorh frequently changing its quarters during the winter 

 from one wood to another. 



The food consists of insects, nuts, beech-mast, acorns, 

 and berries ; the latter more particularly during the 

 winter season. In the house it should be provided with 

 the same diet ; but is too active and restless for a cage, 

 though it does better in a garden aviar}', but never, in any 

 case, survives very long in confinement. It makes a nest 

 in a hole of some tree, and lays six or seven white eggs, 

 sparingly spotted with dull red. The young can be reared 

 on ants' eggs, small meal worms, and other insects, and a 

 little bread and milk ; and if it be desired to keep them, 

 they should be taken from the nest and hand fed. 



The very difficulty of preserving it makes the nut-hatch 

 attractive in the eyes of some people ; but it should not be 

 taken in hand lightlj\ Occasionally, in severe winters, 

 some of these birds will come near a house and feed with 

 the tits and robins. 



THE WAGTAILS AND THE PIPITS. 



The next family on our list is a much more numerous 

 one than tlie last, and probably better known to the 

 general public ; two British genera are included in it, as 

 well as one Australian one. 



Fami I y — Motacillidce. 



Genus — 1. Motacilla. M. lugubris. Pied Wagtail. 



M. alba. White Wagtail. 



M. melanope. Grey Wagtail. 



M. rail. Yellow Wagtail 



2. Anthiis. A. arborcus. Tree Pipit. 



A. pratcnsis. Meadow Pii)it. 



