28 THE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 



heightened by the sprightly and playful manners of the bird. Picking 

 his way daintily, ns if he were afraid of soiling his toes, he moves 

 along the margin of the stream or pool, sometimes walking (as it 

 seems) upon the leaves of the water lilies, or other aquatic plants, 

 and ever and anon stooping to pick up an insect whose movement 

 has caught his quick eye. Tired of one hunting place, with a light 

 and easy, though unsteady flight, he seeks another, remaining probably 

 for awhile on the wing, pursuing insects that generally fly above the 

 surface of the earth, gliding over which and swerving to the right or 

 left, as the swallows do in pursuit of prey, he sees another likely spot, 

 and perches upon a rock or stone standing out of the water, and there 

 rests awhile, jerking his tail about as if he were convulsed with 

 inward laughter, or, having lost his balance, were endeavouring to 

 restore it by the help of this balancing-pole; then he looks keenly 

 about him, and presently makes a dart at some unfortunate dragon-fly, 

 that has just unfurled his gauzy wings for a frolic in the air; there 

 is a greenish blue flash, like that of an emerald, a rush of wings, a 

 shrill cry of delight from the bird, and the gay insect is gone for 

 ever; may be it is a water-beetle that has ventured to crawl up the 

 stem of a reed, or to sun himself on the upper side of a leaf; he is 

 seen and pounced npon in an instant. Water-fleas, and spiders, and 

 gnats, and all the small creatures that enjoy their brief period of 

 existence in and about the world of waters, frequently have this greatly 

 shortened by the nimble Quaketail, who is down upon them before 

 they can creep, or fly, or sprawl, or run, or scramble, or swim, or 

 dive out of his way. He is an enemy to the tadpoles, those all-head- 

 nnd-no-body amphibeaus who riggle their tails in such a funny 

 manner; and it is said that he sometimes treats himself to a fish 

 dinner, seizing such small fry as minnows and sticklebacks, which he 

 eats unfried or cooked in any way. Sometimes the Pied Wagtail pays 

 a friendly visit to the garden, where he makes havoc among the flies 

 and spiders, and other insects found there; he may occasionally be 

 seen running along the roof of a thatched house, although we do not 

 learn that ho pulls out the straws to get at the flies, which the 

 Tomtit is said to do. 



The cry of this bird is a sharp cheep, cliccp, which it utters quickly 

 and repeatedly, especially when alarmed, when it flies about in a wild 

 wavering manner, as though it had lost the power of guidance; 

 sometimes the strain is pleasantly modulated, so that it may almost 

 be called a song. Bechstein says, "I always keep a Wagtail in my 

 aviary, and in the chorus of the Blackcap, Bluethroat, Lark, and 

 Linnet, it seems to take the alto part. It is also useful in destroying 



