BIBDS OF THE DISTRICT OF STAINES. 183 



As a rule, however, the first birds appear about the middle 

 of October, and one or two always remain for the winter. 



Blue-headed Wagtail (M.flava). — In June, 1903, a single 

 bird frequented, a flooded meadow for some days. 



Yellow Wagtail (M. rail). — Fair numbers are well dis- 

 tributed along the banks of the river throughout the summer. 

 On the autumn migration great numbers of family parties 

 arrive, and remain for some days, feeding and playing about 

 together. During this time each family appears to keep to 

 itself, and I have not been able to discover if the final migratory 

 movement is undertaken in these separate parties, or if at the 

 very end of their stay they unite and depart in one flock. 

 Certainly, on migration, I have seen M. lugubris in flocks. One 

 such movement towards evening brought many hundreds of the 

 birds into the district, and when night fell every bush was full 

 of them. The female sits very closely, and the male usually 

 has a resting-place some twenty yards away. He spends nearly 

 the entire day perched at this same spot, and if he flies away 

 returns again in a very few minutes ; he rarely approaches 

 nearer the nest, and when doing so displays great caution. 

 When the female comes off to feed he accompanies her. I 

 wonder if others have noticed the increased playfulness and 

 good spirits of birds about to set out on the autumn migration. 

 Yellow Wagtails dart at each other, and follow each other 

 on short flights, calling the while, just as if the courtship of 

 spring were renewed. Whinchats, Pipits, and Larks also do 

 this. 



Tree-Pipit (Anthus trivialis). — Unusually scarce. I have 

 only met with one nest in twelve years. 



Meadow-Pipit (A. pratensis). — During winter large numbers 

 are seen, but with the return of spring they vanish, and I have 

 never seen one during the summer. 



Tree-Creeper (Certhia familiaris) . — Fairly common. 



PuEd-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio). — This handsome bird 

 is well distributed, and is fond of perching on telegraph- 

 wires. The hen sits closely, but the male is apt to betray 

 the nest by his too evident anxiety and harsh croak of anger 

 when an intruder is nigh. I have found nests containing 

 seven eggs, which is rather unusual. The bird frequently eats 



