THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. 1 1 9 



is always upon the ground — more sheltered spots 

 are selected, such as a tussock of rough grass, 

 or the foot of a bunch of tares or clover, and 

 I have occasionally discovered a nest under an 

 overhanging clod upon a bare fallow. Thus 

 in regard to its mode of nesting it differs essen- 

 tially from the well-known Pied Wagtail. Its 

 note, too, is very different, and its flight much 

 sharper, and with bolder curves. The eggs 

 are quite dissimilar, being so closely freckled 

 over with yellowish-clay colour, like those of 

 the Grey Wagtail, as to appear at a little dis- 

 tance almost uniformly so coloured ; whereas 

 the eggs of the Pied and White Wagtails are 

 white, freckled with ash-grey, chiefly at the 

 larger end. 



The Yellow Wagtail generally arrives in this 

 country during the first week of April (for 

 many years I have noted the 5 th of that 

 month as the average date for its appearance), 

 and it departs during the first week of Sep- 

 tember. For some time previous to its depar- 

 ture, the young and old assemble in flocks, and 



