426 BRITISH BIEDS. 



tints. The head and back are grey, but the neck and breast 

 are yellow, and the throat is black. We find this species in the 

 south in winter ; but in summer it goes north, to make room, as 

 it were, for the other wagtails that migrate from the Continent. 

 It is chiefly found by rapid streams and rivers in mountainous 

 and hilly country in the north, only coming south in winter and 

 during migration. It builds its nest in banks by the sides of 

 streams and feeds upon aquatic insects. 



The Blite- headed Wagtail {M. flava) is the Continental 

 form of the grey wagtail, from which it can be told by the 

 absence of the black on the throat. It is especially found 

 in the south, south-west, and east of England. It seems to 

 prefer flies, which it takes quite close to animals which attract 

 them. 



The Yellow Wagtail {M. raii) is one of our regular summer 

 visitors, and is generally common. In colour this bird is yellow 

 and olive ; the head, nape, and back are pale olive ; chin and 

 lower parts yellow ; a yellow streak is also present over the 

 eyes. The neighbourhood of ponds, canals, and ditches seems 

 its favourite locality ; but they may also be seen near cattle, 

 catching the flies attracted to them. All these birds are 

 insect-feeders, and thus should be encouraged and their nests 

 preserved. 



The Pipits (Anflius) are insectivorous, but weed-seeds are 

 also eaten by them. 



The Shrikes (Laxiid/b). 



The Shrikes or Butcher Birds have a rather short compressed 

 bill ; the upper mandible hooked at the point, and with a 

 prominent tooth. The base of the bill is beset with bristly 

 feathers directed forward. Four species are found in Britain ; 

 the Eed-backed Shrike (Lanius colluvio) is the most abundant. 

 This bird arrives in the early part of May, and leaves us again 

 in August. The nest, which is large, is placed in a thorn 

 hedge as a rule, some five or six feet from the ground. The 



