134 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



the outer web of all except the first three ; the ter- 

 tials purple-hrown, tipped with pure white on the 

 outer weh; four of the secondary quill-feathers, and 

 from one to four of the tertials, depending on the 

 fcex and age of the bird, terminate in a small flat ob- 

 long appendage resembling in colour and substance 

 red sealing-wax : these appendages are merely ex- 

 panded and coloured horny prolongations of the 

 shafts of the feathers beyond their webs ; upper tail- 

 coverts smoke-grey ; tail-feathers smoke-grey at the 

 base, black towards the end and tipped with king's 

 yellow, the shafts of the feathers being slightly 

 tinged with red where the webs are yellow. Under 

 the chin is a patch of velvet-black ; at the angle of 

 the mouth the feathers are chestnut, passing on the 

 cheeks, neck and breast, and all the under parts, into 

 pale broccoli-brown, becoming greyish brown on the 

 flanks and abdomen ; under tail-coverts chestnut- 

 brown; axillary plume and under surface of the 

 wings ash-grey ; all the plumage silky and soft to 

 the touch. Legs, toes and claws black." 



Family MOTACILLHXE. 



Of the Wagtails four out of the five recognized 

 British species may be included amongt the birds of 

 Somersetshire. 



PIED WAGTAIL, Motacilla Yarrellii. The Pied 

 Wagtail, the first in the list of Motacillidse, is very 



