on the M'lgral'ion of Birds. ^S 



Water Wagtail. 

 The water wagtail moft certainly remains with us during the 

 winter. I had three during this whole winter about the hot-houles 

 and grecn-houfe, catching flies in warm days; but in cold weather 

 they 2:et down to the river, and eat the infers on the weeds which 

 appear when the water is turned out of its courfe to water the 

 meadows. I have leen all m v life-time as many water wagtails 

 in the winter as in fummer ; in the former at the river, and the latter 

 about the houies. 



You may depend on the truth of the above account ; and I 

 have nothing more to add, but that my obfervations on the other 

 birds you mention totally agree with yours. 



1 am, Sir, with great refpeft, 



Your obedient Servant, 



EDMUND LAMBERT: 

 Bytoriy near Heytejhury, Wilts.- 



I forgot to mention the rook's antipathy (as you obferve) to the 

 raven. The truth is, a raven will not fufFer any bird to come 

 within a quarter of a mile o£ its neft, being very fierce in defending 

 it. Befides, they take the young rooks out of their neft to feed 

 their own. This I was an eye-witnefs to at Mr. Seymer's ; for there 

 was no peace in the rookery night nor day, till one of the old ravens 

 was killed and tbe neft deftroyed. A raven has built in a large 

 beech tree of mine time out of mind. I can trace it back above an 

 hundred years. The tree is fuppofed to meafure at leaft feven tons. 



v. Account 



