7 
T usually find the nests in holes in the old walls of water-miils, and have always remarked that 
they will nest in the same place year after year, even if they have been disturbed. The nest is 
always placed where it is well covered over; but the eggs may usually be seen from outside. It 
is usually placed close to the brook, and I have only twice found nests far distant from water. 
Eggs which I have taken differ considerably both in size and colour; for I have some which 
are as big as those of Motacilla alba, which they closely resemble, and others which are scarcely 
as large as those of Motacilla flava. ‘The ground-colour is greenish white or brownish white; and 
in some there is a wreath of obsolete spots round the larger end, and some have a few brownish 
black streaks.” 
Eggs in my own collection, from Germany and England, are dull dirty white in colour, with 
a slight stone-yellow tinge, faintly freckled or marbled with pale yellowish brown. In size they 
vary from 33 by 29 to 34 by 22 inch. 
I am indebted to Mr. H. Seebohm, of Sheffield, for some interesting notes on the present 
species, as follows:—‘'The Grey Wagtail has always been one of my special favourites. In spite 
of his name the delicate brilliancy of his plumage entitles him to be considered one of our most 
elegant European birds. All his movements correspond. Nothing can be more graceful than 
the way in which he will run along the margin of a still pool, leaving the impression of his 
delicate feet on the sand, or daintily flit from stone to stone in the running stream. He rarely, 
if ever, frequents pastures, as the Pied Wagtail is fond of doing; nor have I ever seen him on 
the lawn, or in the farm-yard; he confines himself almost entirely to rivers and brooks. I first 
became acquainted with these charming birds in the neighbourhood of Saffron Walden. Between 
this town and Audley End lies Lord Braybrooke’s park; a winding brook runs through it, by 
the margin of which you might stroll any winters morning with the certainty of seeing one 
or two pairs of Grey Wagtails. They were regular winter migrants, appearing about the 
middle of October, and disappearing as regularly towards the end of March. Every autumn the 
Fieldfare, the Redwing, the Royston Crow, and the Grey Wagtail were the most conspicuous 
heralds of winter; and every spring they vanished as completely. 
“T next met with this bird among the Derbyshire moors, near Sheffield, but this time as a 
summer visitor. You may stroll along the banks of the Derwent any summer day, from Ashopton 
to Yorkshire bridge, with a certainty of seeing one or two pairs of Grey Wagtails, and almost 
with the certainty of finding one of their nests. The river is broad, and full of rocks and stones ; 
and the banks are often steep and rocky. A good fly-fisher wading up stream will, on a lucky 
day, soon fill his creel with trout, and have ample opportunities of watching the Sandpiper, the 
Dipper, and the Grey Wagtail, which all breed close to the river-side. ‘The Pied Wagtails are 
especially numerous, flitting from stone to stone, allowing you to approach almost close to them 
before they will fly off to another stone, or perhaps to a tree, uttering their alarm-note, chiz-zit, 
chiz-zit. The Grey Wagtails are much less numerous, and very much more shy; and if you wish 
to watch their graceful movements, you must conceal yourself or be very quiet. In their habits 
they resemble the other Wagtails, running very rapidly and gracefully, continually moving their 
tails up and down, and now and then taking a snatch at an insect, assisted by a slight effort of 
the wings, and displaying at the same time the yellowish green of the upper tail-coverts, and the 
conspicuous white feathers in the tail. When alarmed they will generally fly up from the 
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