THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 21 



M. Luguhris. Pied Wagtail. 



The Pied Wagtail is a generally plentiful 

 resident, but the majority of those which br'eed 

 with us are summer visitants, flocking before their 

 departure in September, returning in pairs and 

 singly in early spring. The Pied Wagtail, like the 

 continental form [M. Alba), is fond of pursuing flies 

 on the roofs of houses, especially in spring and 

 autumn. 



M. Melanope. Grey Wagtail. 



The Grey Wagtail is a common resident, 

 generally distributed along our becks and rocky 

 rivers. The majority of those which breed with us 

 withdraw before the approach of winter, returning 

 in early spring to their old haunts ; but a few 

 examples generally winter in Cumberland, as was 

 the case in the severe winters 1879-81. 



The following note on the nesting of the 

 Grey Wagtail has been furnished by Mr. Tom 

 Duckworth : — 



" The Grey Wagtail breeds on the banks of 

 all our rivers, at least I have found it nesting 

 on the Eden, Caldew, Petteril, Irthing, Gelt, 

 Lyne, Cairn, Croglin, the Ive, and the Roe, and 

 several of their tributaries. It is a very early 

 breeder, as I have found many nests in the first 

 week of April, containing the full complement of 

 six eggs, occasionally advanced in incubation. It 

 breeds twice in the season, the second brood being 

 fully fledged in the second or third week of 

 July. 



