THE ANGLER'S BIRDS. 191 



omen in the matter of fly upon the water; their 

 hovering and undulatory flight across the 

 stream often directing one's attention to a 

 place where flies are playing round an over- 

 hanging willow, and where as a consequence 

 a watchful trout is lying in wait below them. 

 The nest is not at all difficult to find being 

 usually on the side of a bank, or an ivy-clad 

 wall to a cart shed, or against a hay rick; 

 containing four or five eggs of an opaque white 

 finely speckled with pale grey or greeny brown. 

 If, on looking out of the inn window on an 

 April morning, the familiar pair of wagtails 

 are hawking at flies in the road, you may 

 expect a good day. If on the other hand you 

 see them drop into the small dyke that skirts 

 the garden, and paddle among the gravel and 

 stones, do not be surprised at a blank forenoon. 



THE GREY WAGTAIL. Some confusion often 

 arises over the name chosen for this bird whose 

 dominant colouring on all the under parts of 

 the body is a pronounced, but not a bright, 

 yellow. The term Sulphur ea so well expresses 

 it, that the Sulphur Wagtail would be a far 

 easier term of recognition. 



Although a partial migrant the Grey Wagtail 

 is to be found on trout streams all the year 

 round, more particularly in the winter and 

 spring. Indeed the Grey Wagtail and the 

 Dipper are usually the two first birds to greet 

 you in March, as you stand on the bridge and 

 take your rod from its case, the one dropping 



