BIRDS OF THE STREAMS 91 



brownish fawn, no black moustache. Young like 

 female, but streaked on head and back with black. 



Language. Somewhat like the Blue Tit's, but call-note 

 " ping-ping," rather like the twang of a banjo. Alarm- 

 note, " chi-arre." 



Habits. Very Tit -like in its active climbing about the 

 reed-stems. In appearance graceful and slender. When 

 alarmed it at once drops down to the base of the reeds 

 and skulks. Sociable in winter. 



Food. Aquatic insects, molluscs, and seeds of reeds 

 in winter. 



Nest. April onwards. Probably two broods. 



Site. On marshy ground amongst aquatic herbage, 

 in tuft of sedge, &c. 



Materials. Reed-stems and leaves, and grass, lined 

 with feathery fibres of the reed-tops ; a deep cup. 



Eggs. Five to seven. Dingy white, minutely speckled 

 and wavily lined with dark brown. 



GREY WAGTAIL (Motacilla melanope). 



Resident or intermigratory. Most common in moun- 

 tainous districts, but rarer and more local than Pied 

 Wagtail. 



Haunts. Rushing mountain torrents, like the Dipper. 



Plumage. Head and upper parts bluish grey ; pale 

 streak over and under eye. Gorget black and diamond- 

 shaped. Wings brownish black, edged with buffish 

 white. Tail brown, long and graceful, with outer 

 feathers white, conspicuous in flight. Under parts 

 bright yellow. Bill dark brown. Legs pale brown. 

 Length j\ in. Female duller and no black gorget ; 

 throat white (latter remark also applies to male in 

 autumn) ; breast buff ; tail shorter. Young browner 

 above ; eye-stripe and under parts more buffy. 



Language. Closely resembling that of its Pied relative. 

 Call-note, " si-si." 



