BRITISH J'.IRUS. 



I85- 



THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. 



KAY S WAGTAIL. 



f . \ fotacilla 



Ray. Bcrgt 'ron initc flavcole, 

 Temm. 



LKXGTH six inches and a half. Bill black; eyes 

 hazel ; the head and all the upper parts of the body 

 are olive green, palest on the rump ; the under 

 parts bright yellow, dashed with a few dull spots 

 on the breast and belly; over each eye is a pale 

 yellow streak, and beneath a dusky line, curving 

 upwards towards the hinder part of the head; 

 wing coverts edged with pale yellow; quills dusky; 

 tail black, except the outer feathers, which are 

 white ; legs black ; hinder claws long. 



This bird is seen very early in the spring, in the 

 meadows and fields, among the green corn, where 

 it frequently nestles ; in winter it haunts the sides 

 of brooks and springs which do not freeze. The 

 female lays five eggs, of a pale lead colour, with 

 dusky spots. 



VOL. 



2 A 



