22 THE SMALLEn 11BI7ISH BIHBS. 



only shifting their quarters to the more southerly parts of the 

 country as winter comes on, and spreading themselves northward 

 a^rain at the approach of summer. Motacilla is the name applied to 

 the group in natural histories; this is simply the Ijatin for a Wag- 

 tail. As a rule they have shrill voices, without much compass or 

 melody; their flight is rapid and undulatory. All of them are insect 

 eaters, with long slender bills, claws of moderate length, well curved 

 and rather stout, and broad powerful wings, well adapted for birds 

 that often hunt as tbey fly. 



