A HISTORY OF SUFFOLK 



of the smaller tits, but the nest is quite un- 

 like that of any other bird. 



40. Pied Wagtail. Motacilla /ugubris, Tem- 



minck. 

 Locally, Washtail or Penny-Wagtail, the latter 

 perhaps from Penelope, like Jenny Wren. 



In mild winters a few pied wagtails may 

 remain to pass the whole year in Suffolk, but 

 this pretty bird is practically a summer 

 migrant. It is very fond of tennis courts and 

 croquet grounds, where it may often be seen 

 busily engaged in the pursuit of insects. The 

 pied wagtail sometimes uses the old nest of 

 another bird as the foundation of its own, and 

 usually rears two broods in the year. 



41. White Wagtail. Motacilla alba, Linn. 

 This bird is the continental form of the 



pied wagtail, and its migrations extend as far 

 north as Iceland, where it breeds regularly. 

 It is doubtless often seen and not recognized, 

 and may be a regular summer migrant. On 

 more than one occasion it has been known to 

 interbreed in Suffolk with the pied wagtail, 

 while at least one nest has been found of 

 which both the parents were white wagtails. 

 The adult bird is easily recognized by its light 

 grey back, sharply contrasting with the glossy 

 black of the head, but its habits, nest and 

 sparrow-like eggs all resemble those of the 

 more common species. 



42. Grey Wagtail. 

 Pallas. 



Motacilla melanope. 



A rather rare winter visitant, never breed- 

 ing in the county, though it has been known 

 to do so in Lincolnshire. A wagtail showing 

 any trace of yellow in its plumage which is 

 observed in the winter is certain to belong to 

 this species. 



43. Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail. Motacilla 



Jlava, Linn. 



A rare summer visitant, which from its 

 habit of frequenting marshes and meadows 

 may easily be overlooked, and if it breeds in 

 the county the nest and eggs cannot be dis- 

 tinquished from those of the yellow wagtail, 

 but the male in full plumage can be recog- 

 nized by the colour of his head. 



44. Yellow Wagtail. Motacilla rati (Bona- 



parte) 

 A summer migrant. Common enough in 

 localities suited to its habits, where it breeds 

 on furze commons, marshes and in rough 

 meadows. The nest is very difficult to find, 

 as the hen steals quietly off her eggs at the 

 approach of an intruder, though in wet cold 



[84 



weather, like most birds, she sometimes sits 

 very closely. 



45. Tree-Pipit. Anthus trivialis (Linn.) 



A common summer migrant, always nesting 

 on the ground, and rearing two broods in the 

 year. The nest is frequently found in hay- 

 fields and on railway banks, and the eggs, 

 with the single exception of the guillemot's, 

 vary more than those of any other British 

 bird. 



46. Meadow-Pipit. Anthus pratensis (Linn.) 



Locally, Tit-lark, a name often given also to 

 the tree-pipit. 



The great majority of the meadow-pipits 

 which are found in Suffolk are summer 

 migrants, though some remain throughout the 

 year. This species frequents furze commons 

 rather than meadows, and its nest is usually 

 placed on or very near the ground in a low 

 furze bush. The eggs are much duller in 

 tint than those of the tree pipit, and never 

 show any of the red mottling or purple or 

 greenish blotches so often seen in those of 

 that species. 



47. Tawny Pipit. Anthus campestris (Linn.) 

 This very rare visitant has occurred once 



near Lowestoft, where one was caught alive 

 on 2 September, 1889 [Zoologist, 1890, p. 57). 

 Dr. Babington has admitted Richard's pipit 

 [A. richardi) to his Catalogue, as' it has been 

 shot a few times near Yarmouth, and is said 

 to have been once seen near Hadleigh. No 

 Suffolk specimen is known to exist, though 

 there can be little doubt that it has visited the 

 county, and with a view to its fiiture recogni- 

 tion it may be described as the largest pipit 

 known, in size nearly equal to a sky-lark, and 

 possessing a long curved hind claw. 



48. Rock-Pipit. Anthus obscurus (Latham) 



A winter visitant to the coast, where it 

 frequents salt marshes and the muddy banks of 

 tidal rivers. It has never been known to 

 breed in the eastern counties. Two other 

 species of pipit are figured and described in 

 Saunders' Manual, and any bird of this family 

 about which there exists any doubt should be 

 submitted to the inspection of an expert. 



49. Golden Oriole. Oriolus galbula, Linn. 

 An occasional spring and summer visitant, 



more frequently found in east Suffolk than 

 further inland. As it has more than once 

 nested in Kent it is by no means impossible that 

 it might also do so in other counties if the 

 same protection were extended to it, but the 

 brilliant yellow colouring of the cock oriole's 



