﻿Beneficial to Agrictdhcre. 39 



to its habits. In Scotland it is more local, and in Ireland only 

 small numbers occur in certain districts. 



Like the Pied Wagtail, this elegant little bird follows the plough 

 to feed on wire-worms and other destructive larvae in the upturned 

 soil. It is also especially partial to grazing land, capturing the 

 numerous flies and other insects which are disturbed by the 

 feeding cattle. 



The nest is generally placed in a depression on the ground in 

 pastures, marshlands, or cornfields, and is well concealed among 

 grass or other rank vegetation. It is constructed of dry grasses 

 and roots externally, with a lining of fine roots, hair, and sometimes 

 of moss. The eggs number four or six, and are either pale buff or 

 dull greyish-white in ground-colour, densely mottled with brownish- 

 buff or clay colour. 



The Yellow Wagtail feeds on insects of all kinds and their 

 larva?, including many destructive species. 



The male in breeding plumage has the upper parts yellowish- 

 green, forehead yellower ; streak over eye yellow ; wings greyish- 

 brown, secondaries and coverts margined and tipped with pale 

 buff ; tail-feathers blackish-brown, excepting the two outer pairs^ 

 which are white ; under-parts bright yellow ; bill, legs and feet 

 black. The female is browner in the upper parts and less yellow 

 below. 



MEADOW-PIPIT. (PI. XXII.) 



Anilms pratensis. 



This bird, also commonly known as the Titlark, is a very 

 common species, occurring throughout the British Islands. In 

 autumn a southward migration takes place, when many leave this 

 country, returning again in the spring. 



During the summer this species is very abundant on moorlands 

 and other elevated districts, but it likewise occurs on pasture-land, 

 commons, and throughout the lowlands generally. 



The nest, built on the ground, is well concealed among grass, 

 heather, and other coarse herbage. It is made of dry grasses, with 

 a lining of fine roots and hair. The eggs number from four to six, 

 and are usually greyish-white, sometimes tinged with greenish, 

 and densely mottled with olive-brown, a few dark hair-lines often 

 occurring at the larger end. * 



The Meadow-Pipit feeds, upon insects and their larvae, 



