122 WASTE GROUND AND SUBURBAN BIRD-I.IFE. 



bird's habits, as, though frequently seen away from trees or bushes, 

 it never hesitates when opportunity offers or occasion requires to 

 avail of such for perching. When caught at his morning bath, as 

 I have seen him standing on a stone in a horse-pond, with his long 

 tail feathers — with shafts of pure white and jet black — arranged 

 like a half-opened fan, the striking picture he presents is not 

 readily forgotten. 



The grey wagtail {Motacilla sulphured) may sometimes be seen 

 in summer near our eastern limits, where in winter he is of con- 

 stant occurrence. 



The yellow wagtail (Motacilla raii) always appears at the time 

 of its arrival in this country in the same locality as the last species. 



On the morning of the 23rd of March, 1892, I was surprised to 

 note a tree-pipit {Anthus trivialis) among the hedges and scattered 

 stag-headed willows at the Polmadie clay pits. This is an early 

 date so far as I can learn for the arrival of this summer visitor. 

 It remained in this neighbourhood for about three weeks, during 

 which time 1 saw it frequently. 



In autumn and winter the meadow-pipit {Anthus pratensis) 

 occurs in considerable numbers about the Mall's Mire Burn and 

 adjoining ditches and clay holes. 



Alaudid^e. — The free coups which follow the disused clay 

 workings are sometimes in winter frequented by numbers of 

 skylarks (A/auda arvensis) in the company of finches, starlings, 

 wagtails, rooks, and other birds, and in the present winter, with 

 snow on the ground, I have seen one near the late southern 

 boundary of the city. 



Emberizid^e. — The reed-bunting (Emberiza schceniculus) occurs 

 irregularly near our eastern limits. The yellow bunting {Emberiza 

 cilrinelld) is better known, and may be seen and (in the season) 

 heard in the Queen's Park. 



Fringillidve. — The finches, who are so largely gregarious in 

 autumn and winter, seem to take as kindly to the rubbish heap 

 and free coup as they do to the stubble field. Mixed flocks of 

 chaffinches, house-sparrows, and greenfinches are among the 

 common objects of our suburban and waste ground bird-life. 

 The chaffinch (Fringilla ceelebs) is familiar and abundant, and 

 comes close to the streets in winter. I have heard his hurrying 

 notes (which one naturally associates with the time of apple- 



