BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 283 



by the novice, who might otherwise confuse this bird 

 with the true Yellow Wagtail. A bold, diamond-shaped 

 shield of black on throat and breast distinguishes the 

 adult male in summer, but in autumn and winter this part 

 of the plumage is light-coloured in birds of both sexes. 



To practically our whole area the Gray Wagtail is 

 known at least as a migrant ; but as a resident, 

 nesting species it is more restricted in distribution, 

 and rather local everywhere. The banks and islets of 

 running streams, usually in hilly, mountainous districts, 

 are the chosen haunts. Over much of the west and 

 north of England and Wales, over almost the whole of 

 Scotland, except the extreme north and the isles, and 

 throughout Ireland, the Gray Wagtail may be found in 

 suitable places. In the eastern, southern, and midland 

 districts of England it is scarce as a nester. 



In the main this Wagtail resembles in habits the more 

 familiar species already discussed. It is more often seen 

 perching on trees, perhaps ; but its choice of a nesting- 

 site is much the same — some hollow or crevice in the 

 bank, whether soft or rocky, or in a wall, or it may be 

 low down among thick shrub-stems. The nest itself is 

 made entirely of soft and fine materials, grass, roots, and 

 moss, with hair for the lining. The eggs, five in number 

 as a rule, are grayish white, indefinitely clouded with pale 

 brownish gray, and occasionally bearing a few dark, narrow 

 lines near the larger end. Laying takes place in April, 

 and both parents incubate. Two broods are often reared 

 in a season. 



The Gray Wagtail may be considered as intermediate 

 between the Pied and White Wagtail gi'oup and the 

 Yellow Wagtails. It will be seen, however, that in the 

 system of nomenclature followed in our chapter-headings 

 these minor groups do not receive generic rank. 



