424 MOTACILLIM. 



in one of the workshops of a manufactory at Taunton. 

 " The room was occupied by braziers, and the noise pro- 

 duced by them was loud and incessant. The nest was 

 built near the wheel of a lathe, which revolved within a 

 foot of it. In this strange situation the bird hatched four 

 young ones ; but the male, not having accustomed him- 

 self to such company, instead of feeding the nestlings 

 himself, as is usual, carried such food as he collected 

 to a certain spot on the roof, where he left it, and from 

 whence it was borne by his mate to the young. It is 

 still more remarkable that she was perfectly familiar 

 with the men into whose shop she had intruded, and 

 flew in and out of it without fear. If by chance a 

 stranger, or any other of the persons employed in the 

 same factory, entered the room, she would, if in her nest, 

 instantly quit it, or if absent, would not return ; the 

 moment, however, that they were gone, she resumed her 

 familiarity." 



"When the young are able to follow the parents, the little 

 family may be seen in meadows very busy about the feet 

 of the cattle while grazing, availing themselves, as White 

 observes, of the flies that settle on their legs, and probably 

 feeding on the worms and larvae that are roused by the 

 trampling of their feet. 



The Pied Wagtail is exceedingly common over the 

 whole of the United Kingdom ; and in all the southern 

 parts it is resident throughout the year. In summer it is 

 observed in the Scottish islands ; but is more numerous in 

 Orkney than in Shetland, and quits both these northern 

 parts as soon as their breeding season is over. They also 

 quit Scotland, and some of the more northern counties of 

 England before winter, and appear to be somewhat gre- 

 garious in their habits when on the move from one locality 

 to another, small flocks being occasionally seen about the 



