230 WAGTAILS AND PIPITS 



vane of the penultimate tail feather is much larger than in the adult, and all the 

 remaining tail feathers have faint white tips. [w. P. P.] 



2. Distribution. Generally distributed throughout Continental Europe 

 and Great Britain, except in Northern Scandinavia and Russia, south of the 

 Cantabrian Mountains in Spain, Middle Italy, and the Balkan range, where it is 

 absent during the breeding season. It does not visit Ireland, the Faeroes, or 

 Iceland. It is common in wooded districts of Great Britain, but is scarce in the 

 north of Scotland, and absent from the Hebrides, Orkneys, and Shetland s. 

 [F. c. R. j.] 



3. Migration, A summer visitor to the portions of Great Britain wherein 

 it breeds, and chiefly an uncommon wanderer farther north, although recorded 

 on both passages at Fair Isle (Shetlands) (cf. W. E. Clarke, Annals Scot. Nat. Hist., 

 1907, p. 72). Immigration takes place chiefly on the south-east coast of England, 

 the birds spreading rapidly over the country in northerly, north-westerly, and 

 westerly directions. A certain amount of immigration also occurs on the western 

 half of the south coast (cf. B. O. C. Migration Reports, i. p. 75, ii. p. 107, iii. 

 p. 115, iv. p. 115). A few stragglers are usually recorded in the southern 

 counties of England during the first two weeks of April or even earlier, but the 

 chief influx begins about the middle of that month, and the passage continues 

 for two or three weeks more. The autumn emigration is for the most part over 

 by the end of September, but a few birds may be recorded later. The species is 

 a gregarious migrant, and appears to travel mainly by day. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Nesting place : in a hollow on the ground, on a bank, 

 in rough pastures, railway cuttings, edges of woods, etc. Nest : grasses, bents, 

 and moss, lined with fine grasses and sometimes horse-hair. (PI. x.) It is built 

 by the hen : whether the cock assists is uncertain. Eggs 4 to 6 as a rule, varying 

 extraordinarily, although all the eggs in each clutch are of the same type. Space 

 will not admit of the description of all the types, but the commonest may be 

 classified as "red," "brown," or "grey," in general effect. The ground colour, 

 which may be bluish, greenish, pinkish, brownish, or grey, is generally covered 

 with either fine spots which almost conceal it, or bolder spots, blotches, and 

 streaks, while finely mottled red eggs often have an almost black hair-line. In 

 a large series eggs may be found resembling those of the reed-bunting, meadow- 

 pipit, tree-sparrow, house-sparrow, wheatear, pied-wagtail, grasshopper-warbler, 

 skylark, etc., in style of coloration. (PL B.) Average size of 174 eggs, "79 x -59 in. 

 [20'09 x 15*1 mm.]. Only one brood is reared as a rule, and incubation lasts 



