446 ON VARIOUS PARTS 



situation. The greatest part of these birds seemed to be 

 young ones. MARKWTCK. 



WAGTAILS. 



While the cows are feeding in the moist low pastures, 

 broods of wagtails, white and grey, run round them, close up 

 to their noses, and under their very bellies, availing them- 

 selves of the flies that settle on their legs, and probably find- 

 ing worms and larvae that are roused by the trampling of 

 their feet. Nature is such an oeconomist, that the most in- 

 congrous animals can avail themselves of each other! 



Interest makes strange friendships. WHITE. 



Birds continually avail themselves of particular and unusual 

 circumstances to procure their food ; thus wagtails keep play- 

 ing about the noses and legs of cattle as they feed, in quest of 

 flies and other insects which abound near those animals ; and 

 great numbers of them will follow close to the plough to de- 

 vour the worms, &c. that are turned up by that instrument. 

 The red-breast attends the gardener when digging his borders; 

 and will, with great familiarity and tameness, pick out the 

 worms, almost close to his spade, as I have frequently seen. 

 Starlings and magpies very often sit on the backs of sheep 

 and deer to pick out their ticks. MARKWICK. 



WRYNECK. 



These birds appear on the grass-plots and walks ; they walk 

 a little as well as hop, and thrust their bills into the turf, in 

 quest, I conclude, of ants, which are their food. While they 

 hold their bills in the grass, they draw out their prey with 

 their tong ues, which are so long as to be coiled round their 

 heads. WHITE. 



GROSBEAK. 



Mr. B. shot a cock grosbeak which he had observed to 



