222 WAGTAILS AND PIPITS 



2. Distribution. As two forms of black and white wagtail have been found 

 breeding in this country, it is necessary to treat them separately. This is the 

 British local form, and is almost confined to the British Isles, but has bred in 

 Scandinavia near the coast, hi Holland, and apparently in North-west France. 

 In the British Isles it is generally distributed except in the Outer Hebrides and the 

 Shetlands, but it has occasionally bred in the latter locality. [F. c. R. J.] 



3. Migration. The pied-wagtail is found in the British Isles throughout the 

 year, except that it is only a summer visitor to some islands and districts in the 

 extreme north of Scotland. Over the larger part of Great Britain, however, it 

 becomes much less common in winter, the decrease being most apparent in high- 

 lying and exposed districts. In addition to movements probably of a purely 

 local nature, there is in autumn a general southward migration within our 

 area, so that the race becomes more abundant in winter than in summer 

 in some districts of the south of England (cf. Ticehurst, B. of Kent, 1909, p. 89). 

 There is also a considerable autumnal emigration from the whole south 

 coast to the Continent, but in some cases the birds are seen migrating eastwards 

 along it (cf. loc. cit.). In Ireland it is resident, although decreasing in 

 numbers in whiter in some northern districts, and increased on the whole 

 at that season by immigrants from Great Britain (cf. Ussher and Warren, 

 B. of Ireland, 1900, p. 53). Considering that we can be practically sure, 

 from the race's distribution, that the bulk, if not the whole of the birds seen 

 within our area, are British-breeding individuals, the migration season is very 

 long drawn out. Migrants occur at light-stations, etc., in all months of the 

 year except January and June (cf. loc. cit., etc., etc.), but March and September 

 are the times of the principal movements. Migration is undertaken hi small 

 parties as a rule, sometimes in large flocks. On the south coast of England the 

 immigrating males arrive in spring a few days before the females (cf. B. O. C. 

 Migration Reports, iii. p. 181 ; etc.). [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Nesting place : generally in a hollow in a wall, bank, 

 or in ivy, but also not infrequently in old nests of other species (Zoologist, 1904, 

 p. 421, etc.), also in pollard willows. Many extraordinary sites have occasionally 

 been recorded. Nest : moss, twigs, leaves, roots, grasses, etc., rather loosely 

 constructed, and lined with grasses, hair, feathers, wool, and other materials. 

 (PI. VHI.) Both sexes share in the construction of the nest. Eggs, 5 or 6 as a rule, 

 greyish white, closely freckled with leaden brown and grey spots. (PI. B.) Pure 

 white varieties have been found. Average size of 100 eggs, -79 x -59 in. [20*16 x 



