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eastward it ranges to Archangel, and lat. 68" on the R. Petschora. It 

 is unnecessary to trace its distribution through Central Europe, as it is 

 found in all suitable breeding ground. To the southward there is no 

 definite record of its breeding in the Iberian peninsula, and it occurs on 

 passage only in Corsica and Sardinia, but it is locally common in Italy, 

 but becomes rare or absent in the southern provinces and Sicily. In 

 the Balkan peninsula also it is found in Greece only on passage, but 

 breeds abundantly as far S. as Macedonia; and though possibly only met 

 with on migration in the Crimea, it said to nest locally in the Caucasus. 

 [In Asia it is found up to 67" on the Ob and Yenesei, as well as in 

 the Altai and N. Turkestan, while there is reason to believe that it may 

 breed in Algeria and Tunisia.] 



Although generally it shows a preference for marshy spots and the Nest. 

 neighbourhood of water, yet occasionally this species may be met with 

 breeding in hedgerows and among coarse vegetation some considerable 

 distance away from it. It is often built close to the ground, although 

 in hedges it is frequently found 4 or 5 ft. high and exceptionally has 

 bred as much as 10 ft. above the ground in Yorkshire, Rutland and 

 N. Wales. It is often well concealed by rank grass or other vegetation 

 and it is as a rule much flatter than the Reed Warbler's nest, and not 

 suspended, although in one or two cases it is said to have built a sus- 

 pended nest like its congener. The materials used are moss and dead 

 grass as a foundation, with walls of stalks and bents mixed with willow 

 down, thickly lined with hair as a rule, sometimes a few feathers or 

 flowering grass tops. Diameter of cup. Urn. The work of nest building 

 is performed by the hen only. 



As a rule 5 or 6, but 7 are occasionally found. In general appe- Eggs. 

 arance they resemble the rather larger eggs of the Yellow Wagtails, 

 being so finely and thickly speckled with varying shades of ochreous 

 brown or greyish brown that the yellowish or greyish ground is some- 

 times hardly visible and the eggs appear to possess an almost smooth 

 greyish brown surface. At other times the markings form a more or less 

 distinct zone. Streaks and smudges of very dark brown often occur at 

 the big end, or almost black hairstreaks like those found on the eggs 

 of the Yellow and Grey Wagtails. A scarce and beautiful variation is 

 the pink type, which has occurred in several districts, while white eggs 

 have also been found, sometimes with a few blackish markings. 



The usual time for full clutches in Great Britain varies according Breeding 

 to locality from about May 20 to June 10. In Scandinavia the eggs ^^"°"- 

 are laid in early June and in Central Europe from mid May to the end 

 of the month or early in June. Exceptionally clutches have been taken 

 as early as May 9 in Lancashire and there is no doubt that second 



