112 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



south of Scotland. Its haunts, habits, and mode of nesting 

 appear to be precisely the same as those of the pied wagtail. 



Dr Saxby states that he saw a pair of White Wagtails at Ler- 

 wick in 1854, but is not aware of the occurrence of the species in 

 any other part of Shetland since that year. 



THE GREY WAGTAIL. 

 MOTACILLA BOARULA. 



THIS most elegant and beautiful bird is permanently resident in a 

 number of the western districts of Scotland. I have not yet been 

 able to trace it to the Outer Hebrides, but it is found on some of 

 the inner islands, being not uncommon as a winter visitant in 

 Islay and Skye. On the mainland it ranges from Sutherlandshire 

 to the shores of Wigtownshire, and it is by no means difficult to 

 find at any season of the year. From the Upper Ward of 

 Lanarkshire, Mr Alston writes, that it is even more plentiful 

 in his district than the pied wagtail. "I have observed this 

 species," he adds, " catching flies in the air, and returning to its 

 perch exactly like a common flycatcher." Generally speaking, 

 this wagtail is found frequenting running streams, where it may 

 be seen moving quickly about on the sandy margins; or perching 

 on some little stone in the centre of the brook, from which it 

 makes occasional sallies, turning suddenly in the air with a curious 

 movement of its tail and wings, displaying on these occasions, if 

 the observer be near enough, its beautiful plumage to great advan- 

 tage. I have at other times observed it on patches of damp 

 meadow, and in marshy hollows at a considerable distance above 

 the sea level, and on several occasions I have seen it on the house- 

 tops in the very centre of Glasgow. I recollect seeing a pair, 

 some years ago, on the slates of a house, where they remained two 

 or three hours, examining every likely crevice where insects might 

 be lodged. They scanned almost every slate on the roof with 

 amusing diligence. 



The Grey Wagtail is an occasional summer visitant to Orkney, 

 and in Shetland it occurs in August and September, but not in 

 great numbers. 



