816 THE WHITE-FACED EPHTHIANUEA. 



to pick up enougli of this last material for lining. Four nests a.t "Wolf Hill in one season 

 were all lined with it : the eggs were usually four in number, and during incubation, the 

 beautiful and minute bird would admit of a close approach. Throughout the winter 

 the Grey Wagtails generally keep in pairs ; in autumn only have I seen a whole family, 

 and never more together. They may then be seen roosting in company at the base of 

 trees or underwood overhanging the water." 



The general colour of this species is grey, a tint which extends over the crown of the 

 head, ear-coverts, neck, and back. Upon the sides of the head are two buff-coloured 

 stripes, one above and the other below the ear-coverts. The quill-feathers of the wings, 

 together with their coverts, are black, sprinkled with white and very pale buff. The six 

 central feathers of the tail are black, and the two utmost black, and the others white with 

 a black line running down the centre web. The throat and chin are black, and the whole 

 of the under surface, together with the upper tail-coverts, are bright yellow. The total 

 length of this species is very nearly eight inches. In the winter months the black of the 

 chin changes to white washed with buff, and the yellow feathers fade into a yeUowish- 

 grey. 



The Yellow Wagtail, or Eay's Wagtail, as it is sometimes termed, is very common 

 in this country, and is very partial to pasture land, where it revels among the insects that 

 are roused by the tread of cattle. 



It is not so partial to water as the pied species, and may often be met with upon the 

 driest lands, far from any stream, busily employed in catching the beetles, flies, and other 

 sim-loving insects. Even upon roads it may frequently be observed, tripping about with 

 great celerity, and ever and anon picking up an insect, and celebrating its success by a 

 triumphant wag of the tail. The name of Yellow Wagtail has been given to it on account 

 of the light yellow hue which tinges the head and the entire under surface of the body. 

 As, however, the preceding species also possesses a considerable amount of yellow in its 

 colouring, the name of Eay's Wagtail has been given to this bird in honour of the 

 illustrious naturalist. It is a gregarious bird, being generally seen in little flocks 

 or troops. 



The colouring is as follows : The top of the head, back of the neck, and the whole of 

 the back are olive, brighter upon the head and darker upon the back. The quill-feathers of 

 the wings are dark brown, tipped with yellowish-white, with the exception of the two 

 exterior feathers of the tail, which are white, with a line of black running down the inner 

 web ; all the tail is brownish-black, like the wings. The chin, throat, the whole of 

 the under surface of the body, together with a well-defined stripe over the eye and ear, are 

 bright yellow. In length the bird does not quite reach seven inches. 



Australia is the habitat of the prettily-marked bird which is known to zoologists by 

 the very long name of White-faced Ephthianuea. 



It is tolerably common in several parts of that strange country, and is found in little 

 flocks, as is the case with the Wagtails of England. Of this bird and its habits Mr. 

 Gould speaks as follows. " As the structure of its toes and lengthened tertiaries would 

 lead us to expect, its natural province is the ground, to which it habitually resorts, 

 and decidedly evinces a preference to spots of a sterile and barren character. The male, 

 like many of the saxicoline birds, frequently perches either on the summit of a stone, or 

 on the extremity of a dead and leafless branch. It is rather shy in disposition, and when 

 disturbed flies off with considerable rapidity to the distance of two or three hundred yards 

 before it alights again. I observed it in small companies on the plains near Adelaide, 

 over the hard clayey surface of which it tripped with amazing quickness, with a motion 

 that can neither be described as a hop or a run, but something between the two, with a 

 bobbing action of the tail." 



Only the male bird is gifted with the bright contrast of the white throat and banded 

 chest, the female being quite a sombre-plumaged bird. It is always a sprightly and active 

 bird, and is quick of wing as well as of foot. 



