96 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



jumping; at the flies crawling on the inner side of the window 

 panes. The note is rather loud and harsli^ but eheerful. 



The Grey "Wagtail generally places its nest in a hole in 

 the bank of a rocky stream, or a wall, or perhaps in a heap 

 of stones, and it is very similar to that of the Pied Wagtail. 



Mr. Booth, in his ' Rough Notes,^ remarks that in the 

 autumn, winter, and early spring a few remain in the neigh- 

 boui'hood of Erigliton, resorting to open drains or pools, and 

 in some instances visiting the gardens adjoining the town. 

 Mr. Jeft'cry, in his P. N., states that he found a nest on the 

 1st of June, 1867, with the young nearly ready to fly, at 

 Burton, near Pctworth. 



BLUE-HEADEU WAGTAIL. 



Motacilla flava. 



This species is a spring visitant, and by no means abundant. 

 In my own collection I have a female shot by ]\Ir. EUman, 

 May oth, 1851, between Eastbourne and Peveusey, and a 

 male, shot at Hove, April 18th, 1866, as well as a female 

 obtained about the same time near Eastbourne. In 18o9 

 I saw, at Mr. Pratt^s, two male specimens which had been 

 shot on the .'25th and 2rth of April respectively at Hove. 



The Blue-headed Wagtail is said to nest on the ground in 

 corn-fields and meadoAvs. !Mr. Booth says that the bird may 

 be met with every spring, along the coast of Sussex ; that 

 he is well acquainted with certain spots about a mile from 

 the sea-coast, betAveen Brighton and Shoreham, where a pair 

 or two may be found at almost any time during May ; and 

 that he has little doubt that it breeds not uncommonly 

 within a few miles of Brioliton. He observes that he has 



