228 



THE WHITE WAGTAIL. 



WA GT A I LS. 



WE now arrive at a small group of birds, which is sufficiently familiar to every observer 

 of nature through the different representatives which inhabit this country. The WAGTAILS, 

 so called from their well-known habit of jerking their tails while running on the ground or on 

 settling immediately after a flight, are found in both hemispheres, and are all well known by 

 the habit from which they derive their popular title. No less than nine species of this group 

 occur in Europe, some of which are nearly as well known as the common sparrow, while others 

 are less familiar to the casual observer. 



THE PIED WAGTAIL is the most common of all the European examples of this genus, and 

 may be seen at the proper season of the year near almost every pond or brook, or even in the 

 open road, tripping daintily over the ground, pecking away at the insects, and wagging its 

 tail with hearty good-will. 



Mr. Yarrell mentions that this bird is an accomplished fisher, and excels in snapping up 

 the smaller minnows and fry as they come to the surface of the water. It also haunts the fields 

 where sheep, horses, or homed cattle are kept, and hovers confidingly close to their hoofs, 

 pecking away briskly at the little insects which are disturbed by their tread. It also delights 

 in newly -mown lawns, and runs over the smooth surface with great agility, peering between 

 every grass-blade in search of the insects which may be lying concealed in their green shelter. 

 The flight of the Pied Wagtail is short and jerking, the bird rising and falling in a very peculiar 

 manner with every shake of the wings. 



Several Wagtails which used to frequent our garden were fond of meat, and, together with 

 the blue titmice, would often assault, or rather pretend to assault, the tame sparrow-hawk, 

 and cruelly steal his dinner before his eyes. Indeed, the Wagtails seemed to be quite the 

 rulers over that unfortunate hawk, and led him a sad life. 



WHITE V,'\QTAIL:.-MotacUta aO>a. 



As the WHITE WAGTAIL has often been confounded with the preceding species, I have 

 thought that a figure of each species would be advisable in the present work. According to 

 Mr. Gould, who first determined the characteristics between the two species, they may be dis- 

 tinguished from each other by the following marks of difference : 



