THE GKEY WAGTAIL. 169 



have occurred. More frequently it repairs in spring to 

 the north of England and south of Scotland, and builds 

 its nest on the ground, or in the hole of a bank, or 

 between large stones, and never at any great distance 

 from the water. It is composed of stems and blades of 

 grass, mixed with moss and wool, and lined with wool, 

 hair and feathers. 



THE GEEY-HEADED WAGTAIL. 



MOTACILLA FLAVA. 



Top of the head, lore, and nape lead-grey ; over the eye a white streak ; scapulars, 

 back, and upper tail-coverts greenish olive, tinged with yeUow ; chin white, 

 in the young male yellow ; under parts bright yellow. Length six inches and 

 a half. Eggs mottled with yellow, brown, and grey. 



This, one of the common Yellow Wagtails of the Con- 

 tinent, is a rare visitor in this country. Its habits, nest, 

 and eggs, closely resemble those of the next species. It 

 is the Bergeronette printani^re (" Little shepherdess of the 

 Spring") of the Erench, a pretty name, suggested by the 

 habit, common to all the genus, of resorting to sheepfolds 

 for the sake of feeding on the flies with which such places 

 abound. 



EAY^S WAGTAIL. 



MOTACILLA RATI. 



Top of the head, lore, nape, back, and scapulars pale olive ; over the eye a streak 

 of bright yellow ; chin yellow ; lower parts of the same colour. Length six 

 inches and a half. Eggs whitish, mottled with yellow, brown, and grey. 



Eay's Wagtail, the third of the Yellow Wagtails placed 

 on the list of British birds, is, next to the Pied, the best 

 known species, being a regular summer visitor, and every- 

 where tolerably common. It is said by most authors to 

 frequent the water rather less than the other species, and 

 to prefer fields of peas and tares, open downs and sheep pas- 

 tures; but, as far as my own observation goes, I have seen 

 it far more frequently near water than elsewhere, and if I- 



