240 MOTACILLA BOARULA. 



then, your labours over for the season, ye will enjoy life for 

 some weeks, visiting the lakes and pools, and feasting on the 

 bounties of nature. When the frosts of winter have closed 

 the waters, your season of distress will come, as come it must 

 to all on earth ; but then, dear little things, ye may fly if ye 

 will to some lovelier land. And now, thou pretty Wagtail, 

 what more can I say to thee ? Why thou shouldst so interest 

 me I know not, if it be not that thou art very gentle and very 

 harmless. Thou art but a simple thing it is true, and the 

 philosopher might spurn thee, but in thy small frame is more 

 than a Newton or an Arago can comprehend ; and pleasant it 

 is to me to gaze upon thee, thou marvellous epitome of mind 

 and matter harmoniously organized. But I must now address 

 myself to a very different personage. 



The Grey Wagtail frequents the margins of streams, pools, 

 and lakes, at all seasons, and is generally distributed in the 

 lower and more cultivated parts ; but it is of very rare occur- 

 rence to the north of Inverness, and is not met with in the 

 Outer Hebrides. From the middle division of Scotland, it 

 shifts southward in the end of autumn, and even from the 

 southern division the greater part migrate, although it is not 

 uncommon to meet with individuals about Edinburgh through 

 the winter and spring. When there is snow on the ground, 

 they search the ditches and roads, and appear along with the 

 Pied Wagtail at the doors of cottages and farm-houses. 



Its flight is rapid and performed in large curves. When 

 alighting, it spreads out its tail, displaying the lateral white 

 feathers, which then become very conspicuous, and when stand- 

 ing it vibrates its body continually, so that the tail, which it 

 now and then spreads by a sudden jerk is always in motion. 

 It is very lively and active, walks in the prettiest manner ima- 

 ginable, moving its head backward and forward at each step, 

 runs with great speed, and although not very shy, is not in- 

 sensible to danger from the proximity of man. Its food con- 

 sists of insects of various kinds, which it usually picks from the 

 ground, although it often performs a short aerial excursion in 

 pursuit of them. 



It is now the beginning of May. Our little favourites we 



