PASSEKES (MOTACILLID^). 425 



notched at tlie tip, the mandibles nearly equal in length, 

 and their edges slightly compressed inwards. In the Wag- 

 tails, the tail, which consists of twelve feathers, is long and 

 the feathers nearly equal ; in the Pipits the tail is only moder- 

 ately long and slightly forked. The tarsus in the Wagtails 

 is longer than the middle toe, but in the Pipits it is the same 

 length. The Wagtails are partially migratory in habits. Five 

 distinct species are now recognised in Great Britain. Of these 

 the Pied Wagtail (M. luguhris) and the Yellow Wagtail 

 {M. rail) are the most abundant ; the other three are the Blue- 

 headed Wagtail (M. flava), the Grey Wagtail {M. melanope), 

 and the White Wagtail {M. alha). 



The Pied Wagtail (21. luguhris) is a common bird throughout 

 Britain. They move southwards in the autumn, large flocks 

 leaving for the Continent in September and October. They 

 return in March — the males, as a rule, first. The "dishwasher," 

 as the pied wagtail is often called, frequents the banks of 

 streams and ponds, where it runs about jerking its tail up and 

 down, and feeding upon all manner of insects. They may often 

 be seen following the plough, picking up with great dexterity 

 the insects turned up in the soil. Some remain in the south all 

 the year round. The nest is made in April, generally in a hole 

 in a bank or the hollow of a tree or wall, and is composed of 

 dry grass and dead leaves, lined with wool, hair, and feathers. 

 Prom four to six greyish-white eggs speckled with brown are 

 laid in it, and very often we find the cuckoo's egg in the nest. 

 The plumage is variegated with black and white ; back, chin, 

 throat, and neck black, except a small part of the neck which 

 is white ; in winter the back is ashy-grey and the throat is 

 white. 



The White Wagtail (M. alba) is the Continental form of the 

 above species, from which it may be told in the summer by its 

 back being pearl-grey and the flanks grey instead of black. Its 

 food and habits are identical with the above, but it is not so 

 common. 



The Oreij Wagtail (M. melanope) can be told by its yellow 



