170 



MOTACILLID^E. 



wished to observe its 'habits, I should repair to the nearest 

 canal or river, in the certain expectation of seeing a pair 

 hunting among the aquatic weeds for their food, running 

 along the sandy or muddy shore, perching on the broad 

 leaves of the water-lily, and chasing each other with dip- 

 ping flight through the air. I am inclined to believe 

 that, though it may have often been noticed in dry 

 pastures and stony places, yet that when so circum- 

 stanced, it is only engaged on an exploring expedition 



RAY'S WAGTAIL. 



from its watery haunts; for it is scarcely possible that 

 a bird so thoroughly at home in a weedy pond, can ever 

 be long absent from such a locality from choice. Its 

 habits are precisely similar to those of the Pied Wagtail, 

 except that it visits us in the summer exclusively, retiring 

 southwards in autumn. It may often also be seen in com- 

 pany with that species. Besides its call-note, which con- 

 sists of two shrill notes, the second of which is a musical 

 tone lower than the first, it has a short and exceedingly 



