264 
Bnlish Bit (is. 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
TReauiiiu au^ IRestincj of pieC> "Cmaotails. 
{^Motacilla lugiibfis). 
By R. SUGGtTT. 
Oil tlie 23rd May, 1908, wliile cycling through a village 
five or six miles from home, I saw a Pied Wagtail disappear into 
a hole in the side of a straw-stack with food in its bill. With the 
aid of a handy ladder I peeped into the hole which was about eight 
feet from the ground, and there sure enough was a family of six 
young Wagtails, almost fully fledged, and just the proper age to 
rear b\' hand. I decided to secure the lot, and when I repassed 
the spot on my waj' home, I took out the nest, tied it up in my 
handkerchief and thus overcame the difficulty of transit 
Probably everyone who has undertaken the task of rearing 
a nest of young birds finds that the most unpleasant part of the 
undertaking is, that, the lusty demand for food commences at 
daybreak, and as the sun rises pretty early in May, I put the 
youngsters into an old hat and placed them on a chair by the 
side of my bed, each morning they woke me at the first sign of 
day, and at disgustingly frequent intervals afterwards. I cannot 
imagine a more effective alarum than six young Pied Wagtails. 
My food mixture consisted of equal parts of best ants' 
cocoons, very finely ground silkworm cocoon, and crushed 
biscuit, mixed into a paste with cream, and in addition scalded 
gentles, half mealworms, and spiders. They were left in capable 
liands during the day time, and made splendid progress. The}' 
were practically independent at the end of a fortnight and I put 
them into the outdoor aviary where they fought savagely and 
mutilated each others plumage. 
Owing to various causes, chiefly accidents, their number 
was reduced to two in the spring of the present year, but these 
two were a pair and on very friendly terms. About the end of 
May the male commenced to carry hay into a corner of the 
shelter shed, and a day or two later he was assisted by the 
female. The two of theui accumulated a huge bundle of hay in 
the corner, but, after a week of hard work it did not bear the 
slightest resemblance to a nest. I placed a small heap of bricks 
