THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. 221 



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. 



Their prey is taken by the different methods described in 

 the notice of the pied wagtail. About the head of mountain 

 springs, I have frequently observed the attractive M. boa- 

 rula, but knew not the object of pursuit in these interest- 

 ing spots, until the examination of the stomach of one in 

 the month of December, proved it, at least in one instance, 

 to have been the minute river limpet, {Ancylus fltiviatilis,) of winch 

 there were many specimens, together with a few fragments of 

 stone. Of three others killed in localities of a different nature, 

 one contained a small fresh-water shell, Limnausfossarius ; and the 

 others the remains of insects, among winch some elytra of Coleop- 

 tera were apparent. 



THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. 



Bay's Wagtail. 



Motacilla flava, Will., Ray. 

 Can only be announced as a summer visitant to one lo- 

 cality ; and as of occasional and rare occurrence 

 elsewhere.* 

 Mr. Templeton has remarked that it is rare, " appearing more 

 commonly about Lough Neagh than elsewhere," an observation, 

 which, though correct, requires explanation to prevent an erroneous 

 inference. About the lake generally, it is not common, nor have 

 I been able, during frequent visits to various parts of its shores, 

 ever to meet with the species, except on one occasion. Tins was 

 on the 3rd of August, 1846, when visiting its limited haunt at 

 the north-west extremity of this great sheet of water, about Toome. 

 Several were then seen at the side of the river Bann, ad- 

 joining Toome bridge; and on the following day, ten (old 

 and young) appeared at the margin of the lake below the 



t It is marked resident and common in the list of the birds of Donegal, published 

 in Loudon's Magazine of Natural History, vol. v. p. 582, but M. boarula, commonly 

 called yellow wagtail in Ireland, must be meant. 



