PIED WAGTAIL. 161 



always continue a Wagtail, not only in nature, but also in 

 name. 



Two species are now believed to have been hitherto included 

 under one; that which is the commoner in this country being 

 comparatively rarer on the continent; the other being here 

 the more unfrequent. At different seasons of the year, too, 

 the one before us appears in two such different dresses, that 

 it might naturally be supposed to be anything but identical 

 at each time with itself. 



This bird is stated by Mr. Gould, to have been only pro- 

 cured by him from Norway, Sweden, and the British Islands. 



The sides of rivers, and of lakes, of pools, streams, and 

 mill-dams, and the shores of the sea, both among sand and 

 pebbles, are the more natural haunts of the Pied Wagtail; 

 but thc}^ are frequently to be seen on the grass and walks 

 in om' gardens, coming up often to the kitchen door; and 

 they also frequent ploughed fields and meadows. To the 

 former watery situations they resort in numbers, when the 

 early education of their family has been completed. 



In February these birds pair, and early in March begin 

 their migratory movement: then they arrive from the conti- 

 nent: many at least of them, not all, for some have remained, 

 and some still remain in the south, while others advance 

 northwards, even to the extremicst boreal shores of Scotland. 

 They leave the cold north for more southerly districts before 

 the winter; and about the middle of August they again begin 

 to move southwards to the sea coast. There, at the end of 

 that month, or the begiiming of September, they move in an 

 easterly direction; and towards the middle of October many 

 of them again wing their way elsewhere; but a considerable 

 number remain. In severe weather they approach more nearly 

 to houses and farm-yards, and may then be seen quietly 

 meandering along, flitting up, if disturbed, to the house top, 

 and occasionally, though but rarely, alighting on trees. Their 

 movements appear to be rather uncertain, but after a period- 

 ical absence, they again return — sometimes unexpected, but 

 at all times welcome visitors. 



The Pied Wagtail is a very elegant bird, and it is truly 

 a pleasing sight to v/atch it nimbly running or lightly treading 

 on the most treacherous sands, in quest of its food, ever and 

 anon flirting up its tail, which, indeed, is always rather ele- 

 vated, as if to keep its neatness unsoiled. Occasionally you 

 may see it wading ankle deep in the water; now perching on 



VOL. II. JI 



