WHITE WAGTAIL. 167 



Europe, taking there the place, as regards numbers, which 

 the Pied Wagtail holds with us; the latter being the less 

 common species there, as the former is here. It is plentiful 

 from Iceland, Sweden, and Norway, to Malta and Sicily, Crete 

 and Corfu; and is also a native of Asia and of Africa. 



Like its predecessor, this species is to be met with almost 

 everywhere at times — on the open moor and in the well-cul- 

 tivated garden ; by the side of the rapid mountain stream and 

 the slow and sluggish river; the shore of the boimdless 

 ocean, and the estuaries which lead to and from it. Arable 

 and pasture land, if indeed the herbage of the latter be short, 

 are both alike to it; the gravel walk and the well-kept lawn, 

 the village street, and even that of the larger town, the farm- 

 yard pond, and the running rill of the most sequestered dell. 



In autumn they migrate, the young accompanying their 

 parents in their travels, seeking the warmer countries for their 

 winter sojourn, after having enlivened the colder districts in 

 the summer. 



These Wagtails may frequently be seen in summer time 

 bathing and washing themselves upon some shallow shore. 

 They also, like the other kind, delight at times in running 

 along the tops of houses, walls, and buildings, and perch on 

 stacks of wood, and piles of stones; doubtless they 'iind good 

 in everything.' At night they roost among branches of low 

 trees, as also among reeds and various kinds of brushwood; 

 and are said to collect together for the purpose in considerable 

 numbers, and with some degree of clamour. They are ever 

 active and restless by day, and would seem to have discovered 

 the great secret of 'perpetual motion.' They run along the 

 ground with a quickness whose steps the eye cannot follow, 

 and this from morning to night, with but very few intervals 

 of equivocal rest. Their heads too, as well as their tails, are 

 in motion, their legs and their whole bodies. Often they 

 may be seen chasing each other in some fitful humom*, and 

 again uniting with aliens in attempting to repel some common 

 foe. One of these birds has been noticed by M. Julian Deby 

 to come for a month to a window, knocking itself against 

 the pane of glass. Another similar instance has been recorded 

 by James Cornish, Esq., of Black Hall, Devonshire. A Wagtail 

 came in the like way to his window, and after some days it 

 was opened to let him in; he became very tame, and used 

 to alight even on the dressing-glass, which he took apparent 

 pleasure in inspecting himself in: liis mate would not venture 



