Passeres 57 



to say, in appearance, though large numbers pass to 

 and from the Continent in autumn and spring, and even 

 in Britain none are to be seen in the far north in winter. 

 Abroad it breeds in Holland, Belgium, and north-west 

 France, if not in south-west Norway; but in Europe 

 generally, and perhaps even northern Africa, the repre- 

 sentative form is M. alba, whether it be considered a 

 distinct species or not. This form has, in the male, 

 a light grey instead of black mantle, while even the 

 females are much hghter. The young are less easily 

 distinguished; and when, as is rarely the case, M. alba 

 is reported as breeding in England, the male should 

 always be carefully examined for fear of error. 



The song is short and not very noticeable, but the 

 sharp double caU-note is familiar to aU who hve near 

 water-sides in spring, for the birds must then always 

 be near water, though the smallest runnels will often 

 suffice. Later in the year they frequent our lawns and 

 are common on the sea-shore. The nest is placed in 

 a hole in a wall, bank, quarry, refuse-heap, or pollard 

 willow, or among tree-roots projecting from a stream- 

 side; it is made of grass or roots and lined with hair 

 and feathers. The half-dozen eggs are greyish white 

 with small dark grey or blackish spots. 



The beautiful Grey Wagtail (M. boarula) is to be 

 seen throughout the year in the valleys of our hill- 

 country, though very rarely at lower levels except 

 towards winter ; it is perpetually confounded with the 

 Yellow Wagtail on account of its bright yeUow breast, 

 though its crown and back are grey and its throat 

 black. This species ranges from south Sweden and 

 mid-Russia to the Mediterranean, closely allied forms 

 occurring in the Azores, the Canaries, and Asia. Holes 



