THE PIED WAGTAIL 55 



precipitous rocks. Its food consists principally of carrion and 

 garbage of all kinds, eggs, young birds those of grouse and other 

 species which it destroys in the north being very great while in some 

 parts of the Highlands ground is robbed of seed-corn and seed 

 potatoes by the hooded crow. It also prowls about the preserves, 

 warrens and pastures, where any weakly or disabled animal is either 

 pecked to death or its eyes punched out, left to die, the crows 

 ultimately feasting on the carrion. 



AQUATIC OR WATER BIRDS 



RESIDENT 

 INSECTIVOROUS AND HARMLESS 



The PIED WAGTAIL (Motacilla lugubris), Fig. 40, a member of the 

 sub-family Motacillinae of Dentirostral Insessors and included in 

 the family Sylviadae or Warblers, is notable for its well-known 

 habit of jerking its tail when running or perching. The male is 

 rather more than 7 in. in length, the female slightly over 6 in. 

 from beak to tip of tail. The body is black above, breast, 

 belly, and parts under the tail white. White feathers margin the 

 wings and tail, while the legs and beak are black. In summer the 

 throat is black, but becomes white in winter. 



FIG. 40. THE PIED WAGTAIL. 



The pied wagtail inhabits meadow-lands and pastures, and is fond 

 of frequenting ponds, streams and rivers, marshes and flooded 

 meadows. It delights in pastures and fields where cattle and 

 sheep are grazing, and appears in close friendship with them 

 and quickly dispatches tormenting flies, etc., roused by the feet 

 of the animals. The nest of a pied wagtail is built in banks, 



