114 THE GREY WAGTAIL 
ments. It is less frequently observed away from water than that 
species, and though, like it, not altogether a permanent resident in 
England, it visits us at the opposite season, coming in autumn, and 
retiring northwards in spring. It does not seem often to go 
so far north as Inverness-shire, but is regularly seen about Edin- 
burgh in winter; and, on the other hand, it breeds yearly in the 
southern counties of England during summer, as on the streams 
which flow from Dartmoor. This partial migration seems to be 
characteristic of the family, and is difficult to account for. Why 
out of a certain number of birds of the same species, some should 
annually travel southwards, to supply the place of individuals be- 
longing to an allied species, who have travelled yet further to the 
south, and why, on the reappearance of the latter in spring, the first 
should return to their northern haunts, are questions more easily 
asked than answered. 
The Grey Wagtail has been repeatedly observed to indulge in a 
fancy which might well obtain for it the name of ‘ window-bird’. 
The first recorded instance occurs in an early number of the Zoologist, 
where it is stated, that every morning for a period of between three 
and four months, from the beginning of October to the end of 
January, a Grey Wagtail came to the window of a country house 
as soon as the blinds were drawn up, and darted against the panes 
of glass, pecking with its beak as if it saw some object. It would 
then retire, and after a pause repeat the operation, but from what 
motive no one could conjecture. A lady writes to me from Dewlish 
House, Dorsetshire: ‘We are constantly being disturbed by a 
yellow-breasted Water-Wagtail, which comes tapping at the windows 
or skylights, from the first streak of light till evening. What may 
be his object no one can say. It is too cold at present (March) 
for flies or spiders, and, had there been any hybernating there 
he would have eaten them long ago, he comes so frequently. 
When, on going upstairs, or when sitting down in my room, I hear 
this loud repeated tapping, it is vain for me to open the window 
and try to entice him in with crumbs ; he does not even notice them. 
This morning he woke me at about four o’clock. You would have 
said, ‘Some one rapping at my window as a signal that I must get 
up. An old servant tells me, “Ah, ’twere just the same last 
spring, when the family were in London; they say that it do mean 
something.” ’ 
The Grey Wagtail does not commonly build its nest in the southern 
counties of England, although instances have occurred. It prefers 
hilly and rocky districts. More frequently it repairs in spring to 
the north of England and south of Scotland, and builds its nest on 
the ground, or in the hole of a bank, or between large stones, and 
never at any great distance from the water. It is composed of 
stems and blades of grass, mixed with moss and wool, and lined with 
wool, hair and feathers. 
