GREY WAGTAIL 43 
common in the latter season. In Ireland, though partially 
migratory, it is plentiful at both seasons. It occurs, but 
sparingly, in the outer Scottish isles, in some of which it 
breeds. 
MOTACILILA MELANOPE, Pallas. 
GREY WAGTAIL. 
This beautiful bird is for much of the year thinly 
scattered over the island, frequenting the surroundings of 
rapid streams, and also in autumn and winter often seen in 
villages. I have noticed it among the houses of Castletown ; 
Mr. Kermode also has seen it in the towns. The Pied 
Wagtail is frequent among the refuse of the beach, but the 
Grey Wagtail does not often seem to feed on the shore. 
Mr. Graves has, however, seen one so engaged at Dalby on 
15th July 1901. At Laxey it is to be found impartially on 
the mine-polluted stream which flows through the village, 
on the stainless water of its Glenroy tributary, and on the 
little ditches which drain the tramway line. 
In summer it becomes decidedly scarce. I have myself 
no experience of it in the island between April and 23rd 
August, but I have been told of it nesting in a hole in a 
building at Groudle, and have seen Manx eggs undoubtedly 
belonging to this species. Mr. Allison tells me that it has 
nested in various localities in Maughold, one nest being in 
a hole in a ruined house.’ 
Mr. Graves has also seen the Grey Wagtail, on 6th July 
1902, on the Neb at Rhenass, where one was seated on ‘ the 
tip of a small dead fir, by turns singing a few notes and 
1 Since the above was written Dr. Cassal has shown me a nesting site in a 
wall beside Ballaugh river in the village of the same name, and Mr. W. Cottier 
another in the ‘ wheel-case’ of a mill in Sulby Glen. 
