72 BRITISH BIRDS' EGGS. 



five in number, are of a pale-bluish ground-colour, finely 

 speckled with brown and grey. (PL VII. fig. 43.) 



THE WHITE WAGTAIL. Motacilla alba. Mr. Gould 

 was, we believe, the first to discover that the Pied Wagtail 

 of England is a distinct species from the Pied or White 

 Wagtail common in France and other parts of the Conti- 

 nent. In winter the two species are considerably alike, 

 and hence perhaps the confusion ; but in summer the Pied 

 Wagtail of England has the whole of the head, chest,. and 

 back, of a deep black, while in the White Wagtail, at the 

 same season, the throat and head alone are of this colour, 

 the upper surface being light ash-grey. Norway and 

 Sweden were the only parts of Europe from which Mr, 

 Gould was able to procure specimens identical with our 

 British bird. The habits of the White Wagtail resemble 

 those of the Pied species. 



It is said to build in holes of trees or banks, under the 

 eaves of a thatched house, and in many and various situa- 

 tions beside. The eggs are described as bluish-white, 

 speckled with grey, and spotted with larger spots of brown, 

 chiefly at the thicker end, and occasionally in the form of 

 an irregular belt. 



THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. Budytes flava. This, which is 



