106 ITS FOOD AND NEST. 



may be seen shifting from place to place with undulating 

 flight, or running with rapid steps along the margin of, and 

 sometimes wading in, the shallow water in search of various 

 insects. They have also been observed to run upon the 

 tops of the weeds which are partly submerged in ditches, 

 and probably feed upon the water-beetles which are almost 

 always to be found in such situations. 



GBEY-AND-YELLOW WAGTAIL. 



The nest of this bird is placed on the ground, seldom very 

 distant from the stream it frequents, and generally on some 

 rugged part of its banks, the inequalities of the ground 

 affording concealment ; it is usually composed of fibrous 

 roots and moss, lined with wool, hair, or feathers. The 

 eggs are from five to six in number, yellowish white, 

 mottled with pale brown, varying in the depth of the tint. 

 Two broods are produced in a season, the first being 

 generally fledged by the end of May. The young birds 

 keep with their parents until late in the autumn. * In our 

 neighbourhood/ says Mr. Weir, ' the Grey Wagtails 

 generally build their nests in rocky situations on the water 

 side. To this, however, I know one exception. For 

 several years past, a pair has built at Balbardie House. 

 In the year 1835 they erected their abode in a small wooden 

 spout above the feather-house door. Last year one of the 



