BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 325 



witli an inner lining of liorse or cow hair, feathers, or 

 down. 



Eggs. — Four to six, generally five, ground colour 

 greyish-white, mottled and spotted with varying 

 shades of hrown ; sometimes marbled with hlackish- 

 brown at the larger end. The markings are thickly 

 distributed over the surface of the Qgg. They 

 are very similar to those of the Blue-headed 

 Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, and Sedge Warbler. The 

 difference pointed out in regard to the plumage of 

 the first in describing it, and the situations of the 

 two latter ought to prevent confusion. Size about 

 •78 by -58 in. 



Time. — Some very good authorities say April, 

 but I have never met with a nest so early. May, 

 June, and July. 



Bemarls. — Migratory, arriving in March or April, 

 and leaving in September. Notes : tzee-tzee, sip})- 

 sijip. Local and other names : Cowbird, Eay's 

 Wagtail, Yellow Wagster. Sits lightly, and, although 

 by ]io means shy, is very wary. 



WARBLER, DARTFORD. 



Description of Fcuxnt Birds. — Length about five 

 inches, nearly half of which is accounted for by 

 the bird's exceptionally long tail ; bill fairly long, 

 slightly curved downward, and blackish, with the 

 exception of the base of the lower mandible and 

 along the edges of the upper, which are orange. 

 Irides light or dark red, according to age. Head, 

 neck, back, and upper tail-coverts greyish-black ; 

 wings blackish-brown, the quill-feathers being bor- 

 dered with a lighter tinge ; tail blackish-brown, the 

 external feathers being broadly tipped with grey ; 



