MOTACILLA FLAVA. 113 



Guadalmalcil, a mountain-torrent between Tarifa and Algeciraz. 

 This nest was placed out of reach of either man or beast ; the hen 

 bird was visible from the opposite side, and apparently sitting 

 close. On the 19th of April, the nest at the mill in the Cork- 

 wood contained one egg, while another nest found on the 24th of 

 May had four fresh eggs in it, which tends to show that they 

 breed more than once in the season. The nest is constructed of 

 grass and small roots lined with hair. 



Some only of the males had the black throat on the 8th of 

 March ; but all had assumed it by the 1st of April. The females 

 do not always exhibit this mark, some not having it at all, and in 

 none is it so well defined as in the males. 



It is the longest of the Wagtails found in these parts, with the tail- 

 feathers much longer in proportion to the body than in other species. 



Under tail-coverts brighter yellow than belly. 



Male in summer. Above bluish grey ; white eye-stripe ; rump and upper 

 tail-coverts greenish yellow ; underparts yellow ; throat black. 



Female. Resembles the male, but has the throat white, or white with very 

 rarely a few black feathers. 



Young. Above tinged with brown ; throat and eyebrow buff. 



In winter. Both sexes are alike, having a white throat. Length 7-7^ 

 inches, tail about 3^. 



130. Motacilla flava, Linnseus. The Blue-headed Yellow 

 Wagtail. 



Spanish. Nevadilla. 



This species is found on both sides of the Straits in great 

 abundance; the earliest seen was on the 20th and 24th of 

 February (in different years), many appearing on the 25th. From 

 that time till the 20th of April they continued to pass ; and on 

 that day I saw great numbers at Gibraltar, resting on the " flats " 

 at Europa after their flight across the sea. They leave in August 

 and September. Exactly resembling our English Yellow Wagtail 

 (M. rail) in habits, they keep to marshes, nesting in grass and 

 herbage at the edge of water, sometimes among the sedges, and 

 lay in the end of April. 



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