133 



GKEY WAGTAIL. 



WINTER WAGTAIL. YELLOW WAGTAIL. 



PLATE LXV. 



Motacilla sulphurea, BECHSTEIN. 



" cinerea, RAT. 



" boarula, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



" melanopa, GMELIN. 



THE nest is generally placed on the ground, among grass or stones, 

 in the hollow of a bank or rock, usually near the borders of a stream, 

 but not always, for it has sometimes been met with at a distance from 

 water. One pair has been known to build in a spout, and the following 

 year on a shelf in an outhouse, to which a broken pane of glass gave 

 them ingress; and again, on the window sill of a dairy, near the previous 

 one. Another pair built their nest between the f s witches * of a railway, 

 within two or three inches of every train that passed. It is formed 

 of small -fibres and roots, moss and grass, and is lined with wool, hair, 

 or feathers. 



The eggs are from five to six, or even eight in number, greyish or 

 yellowish white, mottled with light brown and grey. They vary in 

 depth of colouring, some being nearly cream white, and others nearly 

 pale yellowish brown: they are of a short oval shape. 



