94 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



On the 8th of the same month Mr. Pratt brought me a 

 female, and on examination we found that the eggs were 

 only just formedj whereas in M. lugubris they were larger 

 than peas, so that it is probably a late breeder. 



On further knowledge of this species, I conclude that it is 

 seldom or never found on the north side of the Downs, 

 though it frequents the coast from east to west. In its 

 general habits, as far as known, it seems to resemble the 

 common Pied species. I am not aware that it has ever 

 nested in the county. Mr. Booth remarks, in his ' Rough 

 Notes,' vol. i. : — " I have never met with the White Wag- 

 tail during the winter, and, according to my own observa- 

 tions, those that visit the British Islands in the spring are 

 considerably later in making their appearance on our shores 

 than the Pied Wag-tails that pass the winter on the continent. 

 I cannot record a single .instance where this species has been 

 observed before the Second week in April. l)uring fine 

 weather at that period these birds may commonly be noticed 

 in Sussex, within a short distance of the sea- coast. As a 

 rule they appear to be making their way from West to East, 

 and seldom remain in the locality for any length of time. 

 I have watched them seeking for food along the banks round 

 brackish pools, as well as on the muds of Shoreham harbour. 

 A few were also occasionally remarked frequenting the salt- 

 marshes between Lancing and Worthing. Further east I 

 found a single specimen feeding along the muddy shores of 

 a dyke in the level near St. Leonards-on-Sea, in the first 

 week in May. When disturbed the bird took a short flight, 

 but after alighting two or three times on the floating weed 

 and searching closely over the surface, it rose in the air and 

 made a straight course along the shore towards the east. 

 The water in the dyke was partly salt, and the tangled 

 weed that grew in profusion contained a number of minute 

 shells." 



