BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL.— YELLOW WAGTAIL. 97 



frequently noticed males in the vicinity of two or three of 

 the sheep-ponds scattered over the Downs^ at seasons when 

 it was most probable that the female was sitting close at 

 hand, and he figures a male and female obtained near 

 Brighton in April 1874. In the ' Zoologist ' (p. 6606) Mr. 

 Wilson mentions a beautiful male taken near Worthing in 

 April 1855; and a fine adult male shot near Brighton, by Mr, 

 Pratt, is recorded (p. 7709) under date April 1861, while 

 another (p. 263, s. s.) is noted, caught in a net in April 

 1871, and taken to him. Again, in April 1888 one was taken 

 alive on the Downs (vol. for 1888, p. 226) . 



YELLOW WAGTAIL. 



Motacilla rail. 



This Wagtail, like the last species, arrives on our coast in 

 April, and though a few breed with us, the main body, after 

 remaining a very short time, leave the county for that pur- 

 pose, and reappear late in July or early in August. 



In a record of my ovt'n, from 1840 to 1876, and in another, 

 kindly lent me by Mr. Jeffery, from 1860 to 1888, the earliest 

 notice of its appearance is April 7th, and the first mention 

 of its return is July 6th. It then remains with us tiU Sep- 

 tember, during which month it leaves this country altogether 

 for the winter. On its first arrival it spreads over the 

 ploughed land and meadows, sometimes in considerable 

 flocks, but it is rarely seen more than a few miles from the 

 coast. 



It is partial to the sheep-folds on the Downs, and accom- 

 panies cattle in the fields, for the sake of the insects they 

 disturb while feeding on the grass. 



