BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 317 



either based upon Continental observations or 

 deductions from the laying season of the Yellow 

 Wagtail. 



Remarks. About forty specimens of the Blue- 

 headed Wagtail have been procured in this country, 

 shot in January, April, June, and October. Its nest 

 has only been met with on one or two occasions 

 at Gateshead, but it is thought that from its close 

 similarity to the Yellow Wagtail it has often been 

 overlooked. Call note, chit-up. Local and other 

 names : Grey-headed Wagtail. There is, so far as I 

 can gather, no precise information forthcoming as to 

 whether the bird is a close sitter or not. 



WAGTAIL, GREY. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about seven 

 and three-quarter inches, nearly half of which is 

 accounted for by its unusually long tail. Bill of 

 medium length, nearly straight, and dusky brown. 

 Irides dark hazel. Crown and sides of head bluish- 

 grey ; a narrow white streak runs over the eye 

 and ear-coverts. Back of neck, back, scapulars, and 

 rump bluish-grey ; wing-coverts black, or very nearly 

 so, tipped with huffish- white ; quills black, some 

 of the inner ones edged on the outer webs with 

 yellowish- white, and liberally marked on the inner, 

 towards the base, with white. Upper tail-coverts 

 greenish-yellow ; tail black, yellowish on the edges 

 of the centre feathers towards the base ; the two 

 outside quills on either side white, with the exception 

 of a narrow black line on the outer web of the second 

 feather. Chin and throat black, separated from the 

 sides of the head and neck by a white line ; breast, 



