YELLOW WAGTAIL. 63 
where in greater abundance than on the Dane from 
its source to Bosley, where it is at once the commonest 
Wagtail and the most attractive bird that frequents 
the stream. The Grey Wagtail occasionally nests in 
the eastern portion of the Plain. In May 1898, Mr. M. 
Wood found a nest with young on a stream at Cheadle, 
and Mr. W. H. Peterkin observed a pair which were 
nesting in a secluded dell on Alderley Edge. In 1899 
the latter pair again nested in the same spot. 
Mr. N. Neave informs us that the Grey Wagtail 
arrives at its nesting-quarters in the Hills about the 
end of February, though we have seen a pair on the 
Mersey, near Romiley, as late as April 12th. 
In autumn the birds descend to the Plain, and from 
October to March are distributed over the lowlands, 
where they haunt the rivers and smaller streams. In 
the West the bird is seldom seen, even in winter. 
Brockholes observed it only occasionally in Wirral, 
and Mr. R. Newstead states that it is rare at Ince.? 
In winter the Grey Wagtail is, as a rule, unsociable, 
and we have most frequently met with single birds. 
Individuals are greatly attached to localities where 
they have taken up their quarters, and we have on 
several occasions known a bird to haunt the same spot, 
day after day, for five weeks. 
YELLOW WAGTAIL. 
MorTaciLLA RAIL (Bonaparte). 
The Yellow Wagtail is a regular summer visitor, 
arriving about the third week in April, and leaving 
about the end of August or beginning of September. 
1 Brockholes, op. cit. p. 7. 2 Dobie, op. cit. p. 293. 
