Water Wagtails. 



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which they live. Like all the Wagtails or Dishwashers, they 

 like water, and they are constantly found near water-courses, 

 ponds, and marshy places. There is no doubt that this Wag- 

 tail, like its congeners, devours the snail-hosts of the liver 

 fluke. 



The Yellow Wagtail, as its name implies, is mainly of a 

 yellow or canary colour. The upper parts of the bird are 

 olive, or greenish yellow, and the lower parts more of a canary 

 yellow. The plumage of the female is not so bright as that 

 of the male ; the bill and feet are black. In length it is about 

 6J inches. From four to six eggs, varying in colour from 

 pinkish brown to a darker brown, are laid. The nest, usually 

 on the ground in grass or tufts, and occasionally on a bank, is 

 composed of dried bents and fine roots, with dried grass and 

 wool, or hair, or even fine roots, for a lining. Nests have been 

 found upon ploughed land. Two broods are sometimes pro- 

 duced in a season. 



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