322 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



deal, according to the tint of tlie ground colour, 

 size of the spots, and their colour. Those in the 

 nest represented were of a bluish-white, marked 

 all over with small ash-grey spohs. Size ahout 'S 

 by T) in. Indistinguishable from those of the White 

 Wagtail or certain varieties of the House Sparrow, 

 except by the parent birds in the former case and 

 the nest and its position in the latter. 



Time. — March, April, May, and June. 



Bevmrl's. — -Eesident, but with a soutliern winter 

 movement. Notes : cJiiz-zit, ckiz-zit. Local and 

 other names : Dishwasher, Black and White Wag- 

 tail, Washtail, Nanny Washtail, Wagster, Water 

 Wagtail, Washerwoman. Sits rather closely. 



WAGTAIL, WHITE. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length nearly eight 

 inches. Bill of medium length, straight, and black. 

 Crown and nape black ; back, scapulars, and upper 

 tail-coverts French or light ash-grey. Wings 

 brownish-black, each feather having a broad outer 

 margin of greyish-white. Tail-quills black, with 

 the exception of the two centre feathers, which are 

 margined with white, and the two outer feathers 

 on each side, which are white, with black inner 

 webs. The front and sides of the head, together 

 with a patch on either side of the neck, are white. 

 Chin, throat, and upper part of the breast, black. 

 Lower breast, belly, vent, and under tail-coverts 

 white. Legs, toes, and claws black. 



The female is less distinctive in coloration. Her 

 forehead and cheeks are not so pure a white ; 

 throat mottled with white ; black on back of head 



