1 6 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



from the sea, we catch sight of a little yellow bird, 

 long and slender, moving rapidly to and fro, snapping 

 at insects as it goes, and pausing after every effort 

 to recover its balance, as it were, by a vigorous up- 

 and-down movement of the tail. This is the Yellow 

 Wagtail {Motacilla Rayi), which comes to us in 

 April and departs in September. The breast of the 

 cock bird looks as bright as that of any Canary, the 

 hen, though in close attendance upon her mate, 

 almost escaping detection from the comparative 

 sombreness of her plumage. In point of numbers 

 at this time of year, this little bird may be said 

 to be the commonest in the marsh, scattered pairs 

 coming into view at almost every hundred yards. 

 They make a skilfully concealed nest in a depression 

 of the ground, often upon the bank of a marsh dyke, 

 under shelter of some overhanging tuft, and lay five 

 eggs of a dull clay colour, which at a little distance 

 looks uniform, but which, upon close inspection, is 

 seen to be distributed in fine specks over the surface. 

 So inconspicuous is the nest, that, unless the birds 

 are watched to or from it, an hour's search for it 

 might prove unavailing. 



The common Pied Wagtail, so familiar by the 

 village pond side, is seldom seen upon the marsh in 

 May, not more than one pair for every hundred 

 of the yellow bird being visible. It appears to 

 prefer the neighbourhood of man's dwelling, often 

 building its nest in ivy close to the house, and laying 

 a somewhat larger, whiter-looking &%%, albeit it is 

 minutely freckled with grey. 



Wherever the ground is hillocky, affording room 



