440 THE GEEY WAGTAIL. 



Breeding. They breed twice a year, and build by the water 

 side, in mill dykes, heaps of stones, &c. The nest, which is 

 more carefully constructed than that of the Common Wagtail, 

 is made of grass stalks and moss, lined with hair. As early as 

 March, the female lays five or six white eggs, mottled with 

 flesh colour. The young birds may be reared on ants' eggs, 

 and bread soaked in milk. 



Mode of Taking. This bird may be taken, by placing across 

 or near streams which it frequents, poles, to which limed 

 twigs, baited with meal worms, are attached. 



Attractive Qualities. In general, this bird bears a strong 

 resemblance to the Common Wagtail, but it is handsomer, and 

 has a stronger voice. Although its song consists only of two 

 notes, yet its clear round tones render it not unpleasant. 



ADDITIONAL. By MACGILLIVEAY, this bird is called the Grey 

 and Yellow Wagtail ; he describes it as a remarkably elegant 

 and beautiful species, not quite so rotund as the Pied Wagtail, 

 which, however, it exceeds somewhat in length, the tail being 

 proportionally longer. " The species," he says, " is permanently- 

 resident in this country, although in most of the northern dis- 

 tricts it disappears in winter. It frequents the margins of 

 streams, pools, and lakes ; and is generally distributed in the 

 lower and more cultivated parts." 



MUDIE tells us, that " the Grey Wagtail leaves the southern 

 parts of the country (in which it is called the Winter Wagtail) 

 about February, or the early part of March, the cause which 

 changes the plumage appearing to operate simultaneously in 

 prompting the migration, as the sexes resemble each other as 

 long as they remain in the south. Many of them halt by the 

 upland streams in the central and northern parts of England ; 

 but others pass into Scotland, where they penetrate to a consi- 

 derable distance north, although, as they keep to more retired 

 situations, they are not so often seen in proportion to their num- 

 bers as the Pied Wagtails. They are also more confined to the 

 clear streams in the open wastes, where they feed upon water- 

 flies, insects, and larvae. 



******** 



" It does not appear that they ever summer or nestle in the 

 south ; and it is worthy of remark, that these indigenous water- 

 insect-consuming birds retire northwards in summer, and leave 

 the waters of the south and south-east to the aquatic warblers. 

 Those resident insectivora are suited to the open air, and the 

 warblers to the shade ; and, accordingly, they alternate with 

 each other in the seasons. The warblers retire to climates in 



