GREY WAGTAIL. 553 



local than the other Wagtails. Like those of our common 

 Pied bird its movements have been frequently misunderstood 

 and misrepresented, but this fact is in some degree excusable 

 since they vary unaccountably as regards places even within 

 a short distance of each other. It has been declared to be 

 in a general way a summer-visitant to the more northern 

 counties, migrating in autumn to become a winter-visitant 

 in those of the south ; but the fact is incontestable that, in 

 many places both in the north and in the south, it is, as a 

 species, permanently resident, though probably, as already 

 explained in the case of the Pied Wagtail, a regular 

 migrant, as an individual ; and the greater number of young 

 birds no doubt leave this country altogether in autumn — few 

 ever returning. Except the Dipper, it is perhaps the most 

 aquatic of all the species of its Order, being rarely seen, 

 unless on its migrations, far from streams, and comparatively 

 seldom even in moist meadows without running water be 

 near. It is also somewhat solitary in its habits — not more 

 than a pair or at most a family-party being found in com- 

 pany. Active and restless, it is incessantly on the move, 

 flitting with graceful undulations from place to place on the 

 brook-side, running with rapid steps along the stony margin 

 or wading in the shallows as it seeks its food, which consists 

 chiefly of various insects, and in pursuit of some of them 

 it will spring into the air, while for others, probably 

 water-beetles of the genera Dyticus and Gyrinus, it will 

 alight on the precarious footing afforded by half- submerged 

 water-weeds if such there be. Small freshwater-mollusks, 

 esj)ecially Cyclas cornea, also form part of its diet, and 

 examples examined by Thompson contained many specimens 

 of Ancylus fluviatiUs and one of Limnceus fossarkis. Its 

 note is louder and sharper than that of the Pied Wagtail, 

 though quite as cheerful, but so far as is known the male is 

 no songster. When on passage it may be seen nearer the 

 habitations of men, and will even enter large towns and chase 

 flies over the roofs of the houses. 



The nest of this bird is seldom placed very far from the 

 stream it frequents, and generally in some rugged part of 



VOL. I. 4 b 



