110 THE DISH-WASHERS. 



because, moreover, it resorts to these corn fields on its first 

 arrival in Britain. Those who have had an opportunity 

 of observing this bird, must have remarked that the tail is 

 not merely moved up and down, but that it has a kind of 

 lateral motion ; or at least that it is partially spread at the 

 time of wagging, which gives it a flitting unsteady ap- 

 pearance hence the name Quaketail. 



The Wagtails, or Dish-washers, as the country people 

 sometimes call them, probably because they are generally 

 seen near water, moving up and down as in the act of 

 washing, have been but little noticed by the poets. James 

 Montgomery has given us the soliloquy of a Water Wag- 

 tail on the walls of York Castle, but as it contains nothing 

 distinctive, and might as well have been uttered by any 

 other bird, we refrain from quoting it. Miss Waring, in 

 her l Minstrelsy of the Woods,' has a pretty rhyme for the 

 Pied Wagtail, of which we give two verses : 



The children's shouts of glee 



Were heard on the daisied green 

 When the ebony and ivory 



Of thy glossy plumes were seen ; 

 Like thine their joyous bound, 



And the bright quick-glancing eye, 

 And bird-like voices of silver sound 



Were hailing thee merrily. 



Still gently as breeze-borne flowers 



Thou art flitting across the lawn ; 

 But the playmates of former hours 



Where are they with their light steps gone ? 

 Thou art here, the same gay creature ; 



But they, on the wide world thrown, 

 Are changed in form and feature, 



And with yoices of deepest tone. 



