PLUMAGE. 83 



It is ^Torthy of remark that those pied wagtaiJs 

 which remain with us during the winter, do not 

 assume the summer garb at so early a period as 

 their travelled brethren; indeed, on the arrival 

 of the latter, which have already attained the full 

 nuptial plumage, the former have but partially 

 commenced the change, only a few black patches 

 beginning to shew on the throat, and the light 

 grey of the back being varied with occasional 

 feathers of a darker hue. In about a fortnio-ht 



o 



afterwards, this process is complete, and at the 

 expiration of that time the pied wagtails which 

 have arrived from the continent, and those which 

 have sojourned in England during the winter, 

 present the same appearance. 



After remaining in the neighbourhood of the 

 coast for a few days, these birds proceed inland in 

 a northerly direction ; and any practical observer 

 in the interior of the county may perceive how 

 much their numbers increase at this period. There 

 is scarcely a pool, road- side ditch, or village horse- 

 pond, where they may not be seen in pairs, and 

 this in districts where, but a week before, the 

 species was thinly distributed. 



Pied wagtails moult soon, about the end of 

 July or early in August. The black feathers gra- 

 dually disappear from the throat in both sexes, 

 and the dorsal plumage becomes of a lighter 



