THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



133 



the bird was disturbed — one of the eggs 

 broken in the nest — which caused it to be 

 forsaken." 



EggS,—- From four to six eggs are laid ; 

 which are white or greyish white, finely 

 spotted with brown and grey, which vary in 

 intensity, and sometimes form a zone round 

 the large end. 



Varieties. — Nearly white without spots. 



58. GREY WAGTAIL. 

 Motacilla suiphurea, Bectation. 

 Sulphurea— Sulphur coloured. 

 Size. — Length, 7! in. ; expanse, 10^ in. 



Plumage. — The male in full breeding 

 dress is perhaps the handsomest bird in the 

 whole genus. The bill is dusky brown, 

 darker along the ridge. Eyes hazel. The 

 whole of the upper parts as far as the tail 

 coverts slaty grey, with the exception of a 

 yellowish white line which runs over the 

 eye. Wings very dark brown, primaries 

 almost black, secondaries edged with white, 

 and coverts slightly tipped with the same. 

 Tail coverts bright golden yellow. The 

 tail, which is unusually long, has the out- 

 side tail feathers white, the two next partly 

 black on the inner web, the rest entirely 

 black. A triangular black patch extends 

 from the base of the bill to the breast, 

 reaching on each side just below the ear 

 coverts ; between the black and grey is a 

 white line. All the rest of the under parts 

 are bright golden yellow. Legs and toes 

 pale brown. 



In Winter the black throat-patch dis- 

 appears, the part then being greyish-white ; 

 the breast is yellowish-white, shading off to 

 golden yellow at the vent. 



The Female in summer never has the 

 throat as black as that of the male, but is 

 dingy white, sometimes with a few black 

 feathers; the other colours are also paler 



and less bright. In winter it resembles the 

 male at the summer season. 



Inmature Birds of the year are like the 

 adult female in winter. 

 Varieties. — None known to me. 



Note.' — This bird is more silent than 

 the Pied Wagtail, and the note is feebler 

 and less distinct. 



Plight.— This resembles very much 

 that of the last species, being only slightly 

 quicker; in fact the same mode of flight 

 seems to obtain throughout the genus. 



Food. — Insects, small molluscs, &c, 

 like the last species. 



In Confinement. — Does not bear con- 

 finement very well, seldom living many 

 months. 



Migration. — This species is partially 

 migratory. Most of the birds leave their 

 breeding quarters for the south in Septem- 

 ber, and return again early in April, but 

 those from the northern half of England do 

 not cross the channel, but remain, for the 

 most part, during winter in the southern 

 counties. Some are found in the north of 

 England during winter, but probably they 

 are those which have migrated from a more 

 northern portion of the Island. 



Habitat. — The favourite haunts of 

 this species during the breeding time is 

 among the mountain streams in the north 

 of England, and southern portion of Scot- 

 land, secluded and away from human habi- 

 tations in such situations as those frequented 

 by the Dipper ; in fact both species are 

 generally found together. It is less com- 

 mon in the north of Scotland and in Ireland, 

 and in the south of England during summer 

 it is rare. 



Abroad it is found in many parts of 

 Europe, rarer in the north ; also in Madeira, 

 India, Java, and Japan. Mr. Seebohm says 

 it extends from the Atalantic to the Pacific, 

 breeds through central and southern Europe, 



