ray's wagtail. 381 



is a constant summer visiter to this country, making its ap- 

 pearance about the end of March, or the beginning of April, 

 and leaves our southern shores in September. Like most 

 of our summer visiters, this species comes to us from the 

 south, and in its habits is very like the other Wagtails, ex- 

 cept that it does not appear to be, like them, so decidedly 

 partial to water. It frequents arable land, and inhabits fields 

 of peas and tares, in both of which I have found its nest ; 

 it also frequents open downs and sheep pastures, fields of 

 young green corn, and not unusually dry fallows, where, 

 perched on a clod of earth, or upon a stone, this bird may be 

 seen fanning his tail, and exhibiting his rich yellow breast to 

 the greatest advantage. The nest is placed on the ground, 

 and is generally formed of dried bents and fibrous roots, 

 lined with hair ; the eggs are from four to six in number, not 

 unlike those of the Sedge Warbler, but rather larger ; 

 whitish in colour, mottled nearly all over with yellow brown 

 and ash brown ; the length eight lines and a half, the breadth 

 six lines and a half. 



The young birds are able to fly about the end of May ; 

 and may be seen from that time to the period of their au- 

 tumnal departure following the parent birds in search of food. 

 Like others of the genus, they are frequently to be seen 

 attending cattle and sheep while grazing, running about so 

 close to their feet as to appear in danger of being trodden 

 upon. A writer observes, " I have seen as many as seven, 

 which I concluded were the parents and their offspring, run- 

 ning and dodging just before the cow's head, apparently 

 catching small insects. I suppose that the cattle disturbed 

 small flies, which are the favourite food of this bird, lodged 

 in the grass, and which as soon as they arose were caught by 

 the watchful Wagtail before they could secure their retreat 

 into the grass. We thus see it demonstrated how one animal 

 is subservient to the well-being of another." 



