316 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



WAGTAIL, BLUE-HEADED. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about six 

 and a half inches ; bill fairly long, slender, straight, 

 and black. Irides dullish brown. Crown and nape 

 bluish-grey ; scapulars, back, and upper tail-coverts 

 greenish-olive, suffused with yellow ; wing-coverts 

 and primaries dark brown, the former, as well as 

 the tertials, bordered with greyish-yellow. The 

 tail is black in the centre and white on the 

 outer edges. Over the eye and ear-coverts is 

 a white streak, also one of shorter dimensions 

 under the eye ; ear-coverts bluish-grey ; chin and 

 cheeks white ; throat, breast, belly, vent, and under 

 tail-coverts golden yellow ; legs, toes, and claws 

 black. 



The female is somewhat smaller and less brilliant 

 and distinctive in coloration. The bird may be 

 distinguished from the Yellow Wagtail, which it 

 closely resembles, by its bluish-grey head and the 

 white streak over the eye and ear-coverts. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground, amongst 

 meadow grass, on hedgerow banks, amongst the 

 exposed roots of trees, in pastures, grass meadows, 

 and cornfields, according to Continental observa- 

 tions. 



Materials. Dead grass, moss, and fibrous roots, 

 lined with horsehair. 



Eggs. Four to six, usually five ; quite similar 

 to those of the Yellow Wagtail ; greyish- white, 

 suffused, mottled, or spotted with varyiog shades 

 of brown ; sometimes marbled with a few fine lines 

 of dark brown. Size about '78 by -56 in. 



Time. May and June, according to Messrs. 

 Dixon and Miller Christy ; but these months are 



