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arrival, to the newly-sown lands, it lias obtained 

 in many districts the provincial name of Oat-seed 

 Bird. It is not so generally diffused as the last 

 species, but adheres to particular districts, namely, 

 open arable ground and extensive npland sheep 

 pastures. Its habits are similar to those of the 

 other Wagtails, but it is more addicted to searching 

 for insects on plants. Its nest is built upon the 

 ground, and lined with hair, and the eggs, four or 

 five in number, are of a pale brown hue, sprinkled 

 with dots of a darker tint. 



WAGTAIL, WHITE. 



MOTACILLA ALBA, Lin. 



This species is found in summer as far north as 

 the Arctic regions, and in Sweden and Norway- 

 It is only a summer visitor to Britain, while many 

 of the better known Pied Wagtails remain with us 

 all the year. The permanent pearl grey, or light 

 ash grey, of its back, appears to be its most obvious 

 distinction. Its habits are similar to those of its 

 congeners. Its food consists of insects and their 

 larvae. The nest is placed among grass in mea- 

 dows, or in a fissure of decayed buildings or rocks, 

 &c., where five or six eggs, of a bluish white 

 colour, spotted with black, are deposited. 



