56 COMMON BRITISH BIRDS 



WAGTAIL, PIED. (R. Wagtails.) 



Size. Sparrow. Graceful shape with long tail. 



Colour. Black above, white forehead, sides of face 

 and neck. Black throat, wing-feathers edged with white. 

 Outer tail-feathers white. The female is more grey on 

 the back. 



Note. Generally a simple call-note ' chiz-zit.' 



Distinguishing Feature. The clearly defined black 

 and white plumage. Often seen gracefully running 

 along the side of a stream or pond catching insects, 

 all the while moving its long tail in the characteristic 

 up-and-down manner common to all the Wagtails. 



Nest* In a wall, heap of stones, &c., dried grass, 

 lined hair and wool. 



Eggs. White, with numerous tiny grey spots and 

 dots, sometimes a black line. 



Flaunts. Farmyards, sides of streams, ponds, &c. 

 Seen following cattle as they graze, catching the insects 

 stirred up out of the grass by the animal's feet. 



WAGTAIL, RAY'S. (S.M. Wagtails.) 



Size. Sparrow. Slender shape, with medium length 

 of tail. 



Colour. Back greenish-grey, head and under parts 

 bright yellow. Wings and tail brown. Female more 

 dull. 



Note. A shrill call-note. 



Distinguishing Feature. Though found in different 

 situations from the last two birds, being one of the Field 

 Wagtails as distinguished from the Water Wagtails. 

 the shape and carriage of this graceful species point 

 it out as one of the same family. The bright yellow 

 on the head and under parts prove it to be this species, 

 as, in the summer, when Ray's Wagtail is seen, the 

 Grey Wagtail has a conspicuous black throat. If in 

 winter a Wagtail is seen without any black on the throat 

 and showing traces of yellow underneath, it is the Grey 

 Wagtail in winter plumage. 



Nest. On the ground, usually under a clod of earth or 

 tuft of grass. 



E SS S - Whitish, with small spots and dots of greyish- 

 brown. 



Haunts. Chiefly fields. 



