THE YELLOW WAGTAIL 



MOTACILLA RAII 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : With few exceptions, a 

 summer migrant, generally distributed over England and 

 the south of Scotland, but very local in Ireland, chiefly 

 in the north and west. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : This beautiful and graceful little bird is chiefly 

 observed during the two seasons of migration within the 

 Metropolitan area, although a small number pass the 

 summer in suitable parts of it. I have seen this species 

 in the Green Park, in Hyde Park, in Regent's Park, and 

 Battersea Park. There must be various other similar spots 

 which it frequents occasionally. Further out towards 

 the more rural suburbs its occurrence, of course, becomes 

 less noteworthy. It occasionally visits Wormwood Scrubs, 

 many of the large market-gardens and sewage-farms, and 

 most of the open pieces of agricultural land still left 

 between the blocks of houses. The Yellow Wagtail has 

 been known to breed at Putney, Wandsworth, and 

 Mitcham. It also does so commonly in the Wimbledon 

 and Richmond districts, as well as in those of Hanwell, 

 Southall, Sudbury, Wembley, Harrow, Hendon, Enfield, 

 Waltham, and Epping, although in the latter locality it 

 is said to be becoming less numerous. Thence it may 

 be traced as a breeding species through many places 

 in the eastern suburbs, in Kent, and in all suitable 

 parts of North Surrey, from Epsom and Chelsham in- 

 wards. 



The gay and sprightly Yellow Wagtail is pre-eminently 

 a bird of the open fields and pastures, most in evidence, 

 perhaps, shortly after its arrival upon ground which is 

 being tilled, and where it may be seen daintily running 

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