34 



British Bi'rds^ 



duller in colour than the male, and has the head of the same greenish-yellow 

 colour as the back, so that the bright yellow forehead is not visible. The 

 winter plumage is also similar, but the under parts are brighter yellow, and 

 there is a tinge of saffron colour on the breast : the evebrow is well marked 

 and of a bright yellow. The breeding range of the Yellow Wagtail is very 

 similar to that of our Pied Wagtail, as its principal nesting place is in the British 

 Islands, and it is almost entireh' a bird of Western Europe. It goes, ht)wever, much 

 further south for its winter home, wintering in West Africa, while man_v find their 

 wa}' along the east coast of Africa as far as the Zambe;?i and the Transvaal. As, 

 however, there seems to be a second colonj' of the Yellow Wagtail in Southern 

 Russia and Central Asia, it is probable that the birds from this area, choosing the 



--rSi 



The Grey Wagtah.. 



Thk Yellow Wagtail. 



The Blue-headeii Wagtail. 



east coast route, find their wa\- into South-eastern Africa. In liabits the present 

 species differs considerabl\ from its relatives, being mostly gregarious, except in the 

 nesting-season. On their arrival in Great Britain the Yellow Wagtails fretiutnt 

 commons and pasture-lands in small parties, and are very fond of feeding in the 

 neighbourhood of cattle, running about the feet of the latter and feeding on flies. 

 In the autumn they collect in large numbers in the reed-beds near the shores of our 

 south coast, and hundreds roost in these places, before their autumn migration. The 

 nest is placed on the ground, generally under some shelter, and is made of grass and 

 rootlets, and lined with hair or feathers. The eggs are from four to six in number, 

 and vary in colour and markings more than do those of the other species of Wagtails, 

 The Blue-headed Wagtail ( Motacilla flava]. Is of the same size and general 



