182 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 



so late as in October. The situations generally known to me 

 as selected for its nest were on the ground beneath piles of 

 loosely heaped stones, the eggs four in number, and as de- 

 scribed by Mr. Selby. A nest examined by my relative was, 

 excepting some thread and bits of cloth in its foundation, en- 

 tirely formed of cow and horse hair. 



Montagu remarks of this species (Orn. Diet.), "as the 

 weather becomes severe, they haunt marshes subject to the 

 flow of the tide. In such places on the coast we have seen 

 them in abundance, when none were to be found inland." In 

 the north of Ireland they are always to be met with in the in- 

 terior of the country, and in the most genial seasons of the 

 year frequent the sea-side when the tide has ebbed. Like the 

 dunlin (Tringa variabilis), and birds of similar habits, I have 

 in some localities observed them daily attend upon the flowing 

 tide in autumn. During the breeding season they have oc- 

 curred to me on small and low rocky islets in the sea. 



The wagtails are very general favourites. It is interesting 

 to observe their confidence in man, which is especially shown 

 in their closely following and keeping pace with the plough 

 and harrow, when the loud calling of the driver to his horses 

 or other noise they heed not, as if knowing it is not addressed 

 to them. In thus feeding, one manner only of taking their 

 prey is resorted to ; but elsewhere, when winged insects are 

 the objects of pursuit, we may see in addition to running, both 

 leaping and flying adopted ; in the last they resemble the 

 spotted fly-catcher, and through the air I have seen them 

 pursue insects as far as this species. It is amusing to behold 

 what appears to be their playfulness of manner towards other 

 birds, and the reception it meets with from them. Thus have 

 I seen one fly out to sea after a king plover (Charadrius Hia- 

 ticula), and strike at it several times, the latter exerting all its 

 powers to avoid it, as if the wagtail, not more than half its 

 weight, were a bird of prey. Again, when one of these birds 

 and a yellow bunting were feeding near each other, the wag- 

 tail gave chase to the latter, and after taking many turns, 

 through all of which they maintained a regular distance of about 

 a foot from each other, they alighted peaceably on the same 

 stone ; the chase thus seeming to have been undertaken for 



