THE WATER-WAGTAIL. 



69 



streak over the eye ; his bright yellow breast and under- 

 parts, with black bill and legs ; and notice his long hind- 

 claw, which in the water-wagtail is much shorter. The 

 yellow wagtail is particularly fond of frequenting the 

 meadows adjacent to water where cattle are grazing, know- 

 ing well that there flies do congregate ; but he is also very 

 partial to the larvae of water-insects, and constantly alights 

 on the debris of the reeds and rushes and water-plants 

 which accumulate at mill-heads and hatchways. Its note 

 is like the words " chit up " shrill and sharp. 



The GREY WAGTAIL (Motacilla sulphured), which, accord- 

 ing to Seebohm, " confines itself entirely to the water-side, 

 may be distinguished from all other British wagtails by its 

 uniting the characters of a grey back with a green rump and 

 upper tail-coverts/' and also by its black throat and chin, 

 bound by a line of white. This bird has also a long hind-claw. 



NEST OF THE REED WARBLER. 



