238 THE TELLOW WAGTAIL. 



In the house they should be fed on the same food as the nightingale, to 

 which they may be gradually accustomed, by throwing amongst it meal- 

 worms and ants' eggs. 



Breeding. — Their nests, placed by the water-side, in mill-dikes, ot 

 heaps of stones, are formed with rather more art than those of the precedinj^ 

 species. They begin to lay as early as March, five or six white eggs, 

 mottled with flesh-colour. The young ones must be reared on ants* eggs 

 and the crumb of white bread, soaked in boiled milk. 



Mode of Taking. — This is very simple; it is only to plant sticks with 

 limed twigs and meal-worms attached to them, on the banks, or in the 

 middle of a stream which they frequent ; you will not have to wait long 

 before some are caught. 



Attractive Qualities. — They are as pleasing as the common wagtail; 

 but their plumage is more brilliant, and their voice stronger. Their beau- 

 tiful clear trilling sound renders their song agreeable, though rather short. 



THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. 



Motacilla flava, Linn.cds ; La Bergeronelte du printemps, Buffon ; Die gelbe 

 Bachstelze, Bechstein. 



This might almost be mistaken for the female of the preceding 

 species ; but it is smaller, or rather shorter, as its tail is not so 

 long, measuring only two inches and a half. The total length 

 of this bird is six inches and a half; the beak is dusky; the 

 iris nut brown; the shanks ten lines high, and black; the 

 upper part of the body reddish grey, with a decided olive tint, 

 which on the rump becomes a canary green ; the head inclines 

 more to grey than green, and above the eyes is a reddish 

 white streak ; the under part of the body is of a fine yellow, 

 which becom.es citron from age, and is palest at the throat and 

 breast. 



The back of the female is greyer ; the belly of a less beau- 

 tiful yellow; the throat whitish, and, with the breast as far 

 as the belly, spotted with red or rust colour, in the male. 



IJabitation. — When wild, this species, better known than the pre- 

 ceding, is found throughout the plains of Europe, running about the 

 pastures amongst the sheep and cattle. They assemble in September, and 

 depart for warmer countries in large flights, uttering the cry " sipp^ 

 iipp ! " in a clear tone ; they return in March. 



It must be treated like the grey wagtail, in the house ; but it is not so 

 delicate. 



