132 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



these birds was intrusted, has, I think, well carried 

 out the general idea. 



This species has a very wide distribution abroad, 

 extending far to the east. 



CASE 26. 



THE YELLOW AND THE PIED WAGTAIL 

 Order, Passeres. Family, Motacillidce 



The Yellow Wagtail. 



This species is arriving on our south coast in 

 March or April, going southward in September, 

 and distributing itself afterwards. 



I confess to having little or no knowledge of the 

 bird ; I am sure I have met with it, but generally 

 when I have been merely on a walk without a gun. 

 From what I can grather from ornithologrical books 

 it would seem to be somewhat plentiful in England 

 and Wales, to be in evidence in the south of Scot- 

 land, and very local in j Ireland, " the district about 

 Lough Neagh and the vicinity of Dublin being the 

 only part in which it is known to breed up to the 

 present time" (H.S.). The nest appears to be 

 often made on the ground, being well concealed, or 

 at the bottom of a wall amongst coarse herbage, or 

 perhaps in a bank. Number of eggs — -five to six; 

 colour, whitish, mottled with various shades of brown. 

 The bird nests early, and sometimes rears two broods. 



