156 



Measure- Average of 19 eggs (Norway), 21.5 X 15.45 mm., Max. 24 X 17 mm. 



ments. (^esterlund), Min. 19.2X14.5 and 20.1X14.3 mm. 



78. Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flara L. 

 Geographical Races. 



a. British YeUow Wagtail, M. flava rayi (Bp.). 



Plate 19, fig. 15—18 (England). 



Eggs: Hewitson, I. Ed. I, pi. LIX, fig. 3; II. Ed. I, pi. XXXIV, fig. 3; 

 III. Ed. I, pi. XLII, fig. 3. Seebohm, Br. Birds, pi. 14; id. Col. Fig., pi. 58a. 

 Frohawk, Br. Birds, I, pi. Ill, fig. 95, 96. 



Nest: 0. Lee, IV, p. 140. 



British Local Names: Yellow Molly or Wagster, Cow Bird, Barley 

 Bird, Seed Fool, Oatseed Bird. Welsh: Siglen or Tinsigl felen. Scotland: 

 Oatear, Seed Lady. 



Foreign Name: France: Bergeronette a tete jaune. 



Motacilla raii (Bp.). Newton, ed. Yarrell, I, p. 564; Dresser, Birds of 

 Europe, III, p. 277; id. Man. Pal. Birds, p. 208; Saunders, Man., p. 129. 

 M. flava rayi (Bp.). Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 294. 



Breeding Range: British Isles, N. W. France. 

 British In England the Yellow Wagtail is a common summer migrant, breeding 



^ ^^" in the plains and the more open valleys, but not as a rule over about 

 700 ft. In Cornwall and Devon it occurs chiefly on migration, but has 

 nested in S. Devon. It is scarce in the Lake district, and absent of course 

 from the great moorland district of the N. of England. In Wales it is 

 exceedingly local, but two or three colonies exist in Cardigan (one on the 

 Teifi bog, about 500 ft. above the sea); in Merioneth it breeds at Bala 

 and near the S. W. coast, while in the N. it is local in Flint and Denbigh, 

 and occurs also in the upper Severn valley; and in Brecon is common in 

 the valleys of the Usk and Wye, etc. It is not found on the Isle of Man, 

 and in Scotland is practically unknown N. of the Great Glen, though stated 

 by Booth to breed near Inverness. In the Dee area it nests on the Aberdeen 

 coast (between Don and Newburgh), and is not uncommon in some localities 

 in the Forth district (Vale of Menteith, etc.). It also occurs sporadically 

 in the Clyde area, and in small numbers in Tay, but further S. our in- 

 formation is still defective. In Ireland its distribution is very remarkable; 

 one colony breeds about Lough Neagh in Ulster; in Connaught another is 

 found along the shores of Loughs Corrib, Mask, and Carra; and in 1868 

 it was found breeding near Dublin, but has not been noticed there since. 

 .^°°' In E. France M. flava flava appears to be prevalent, but from Dieppe 



Europe. Westward M. f. rayi is found. 



