Family MOTACILLID^. 



THE PIED WAGTAIL. 



Motacilla lugubris, Temminck. 

 Plate ii. 



The Pied Wagtail, although common and resident throughout the British 

 Islands, is subject to a partial migration southwards in autumn. According to 

 Lord Lilford, ** its range appears to be virtually limited to our islands and the 

 extreme west of the continent of Europe." 



The nest, built of moss, grass-stalks, and roots, and lined with hair, is placed 

 in a cavity under some bank or rock, in thatch, or perhaps more often in thick 

 ivy against a wall. It is usually begun in April, and contains from four to six 

 eggs, in colour white, speckled with grey. 



The food of this bird consists mainly of insects, and it is a most expert 

 flycatcher. 



On June 7, 19 13, I observed one which was feeding its young in a nest placed 

 close to my window, cleverly seizing these insects, although its bill already held 

 a plentiful supply. Sometimes only half a minute elapsed between the visits of 

 the female to the nest, and she occasionally wetted the food in a drinking pan 

 before taking it to the young. 



The Pied Wagtail is met with in fields and gardens ; riverside meadows are 

 also favourite haunts, and in autumn many feed along the seashore. 



It is a strikingly beautiful bird, the various tones of black, white, and grey 

 being strongly contrasted. 



In spring it has a pleasing though short song. 



This Wagtail may be distinguished in summer plumage from the so-called 

 White Wagtail — the next species to be described — by having the back black instead 

 of grey. In winter the black mantle of the former changes to grey, when both 

 species are much alike. 



The female has the back grey, marked with dark feathers. 



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