238 THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. 



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

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

 worms and ants 1 eggs. 



BREEDING. Their nests, placed by the water-side, in mill-dikes, or 

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

 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 ar 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, LINNJEUS ; La Bergeronette 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 becomes 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 tjie breast as far 

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



HABITATION. 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, 

 sipp ! " 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. 



