THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. 

 Motacilla raii (Bonaparte). 

 Plate ii. 



This species is a common summer visitor to many parts of the British 

 Islands, reaching our shores in spring, leaving in the autumn, and wintering in 

 Africa. 



It is the representative in Western Europe of the Blue-headed Wagtail, 

 previously described, only differing from it in the colour of the head, the crown 

 being of a yellowish-green. 



Its habits are precisely the same, usually seeking its food in fields among 

 grazing cattle, where a plentiful supply of flies and other insects may be found. 



The nest, placed on the ground, is built of dead grasses and fine roots, and 

 lined with hair. The five or six eggs are greyish-white, mottled with yellowish- 

 brown. 



Describing its notes. Lord Lilford says {Birds of Northamptonshire and Neigh- 

 bourhood) : " The Yellow Wagtail has more of a song and altogether more 

 musical notes than either the Pied or Grey species. 



The female is browner on the back than the male, paler on the underparts, 

 and has the eye-stripe more of a buff-colour. 



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