Till*: AVAGTAILS* 



The naiiie of these birds is derived from tlie remarkable, rapid, and ahnost incessant 

 motion of their tails. IMany birds iiirt the tail npwards and downwards, but perhaps 

 none do it so constantly as the AVagtails. They accompany the elevation by a jerking 

 spread, whicli relaxes when it is dej)resscd, so that it appears to have two simultaneous 

 motions. 



The Wagtails frequent the margins of livcis, especially clear streams and pools in 

 retired places, and form their nests under projecting stones, oi' in holes near the banks. 

 Thej- feed chiefly on aquatic insects and worms. 



The head of these birds is small and pointed, the body slender, Init firm at the shoulders 

 and tapering backwards; the tail very long, and the wings rather short. The bill is 

 slender, awl-shaped, and has a ridge or keel on the upper part, and margins to the edges 

 of both mandibles at the middle. Tlic tarsi are long and strong, as is also the hinder toe, 

 the claw upon which is considerably produced. 



The Wagtails run with great rapidity, and do not hop or require the aid of their 

 pinions in running. They can run on the surface of very soft ground without sinking, and 

 over slippery jDebbles by the brooks without any unsteadiness. And when it is necessary 

 for them to change from rumiing to flying, they can easily take wing from either of those 

 surfaces. 



The legs of these biirls are placed behind the centre of gravity of their bodies, as is 

 the case in all birds which run rapidlj^, in consequence of which they would have some 

 difficulty, in recovering themseUes by mere muscular exertion when they bring their 

 bills to the ground, as they must frequently do in picking up their food. But us 



TlIK PIKI) ^VAf:TAIr„ MAI.K.f 



JIudie remarks, "the Unv'i ai'e long in proportion to (lie size of tin- liirds; but the 

 neck and bill, instead of being so long us to enable the latter to reacli tlie ground wliilc 



• Mc.tii.i 



MotiR-illii Alba. 



