CHAPTER LIV. 



The Yellow Wagtail. 



Motacilla flava, Lin. ; La Bergeronette da prmtemps, Buf. 



Desceiption and Oharaotee. — The Yellow Wagtil differs from 

 its congeners in having a shorter tail, which, when it alights 

 on the ground, it partly spreads like a fan, at the same time 

 oscillating it — a manoeuvre peculiar to this species. This bird 

 may frequently be met with, in summer time, in cornfields and 

 meadows — its most usual haunts. It is not by any means 

 bashful, but is endowed with a considerable amount of con- 

 fidence and trust, and will let anyone approach it within a 

 few feet before attempting to move away, and even then will 

 not go far ; in this respect it greatly resembles the Pied, or 

 Common Wagtail. 



The full-length of this bird, from the tip of the beak to 

 the end of the tail, is 6^in., of which the tail measures 2^m. 

 The bill is of a dusky colour, and almost black. The irides 

 are dark hazel. The head, and upper parts of the body (in- 

 cluding the lesser wing coverts), are olive green, with the 

 exception of the rump, which is Siskin green. The wings are 

 blackish brown, and, together with the larger coverts, are 

 bordered with pale yellow. Over each eye is a streak of pale 

 yellow ; a dark line passes in front and behind the eyes, 

 and there is a dark streak beneath the eye, and curving upward 

 towards the hind part of the head ; the under parts are bright 

 yellow, excepting with old birds, when they are more of a 

 sulphur colour. The throat is slightly speckled with black, and 

 sometimes the breast as well ; the tail is black, with the ex- 



