WAGTAILS. 139 



is placed far under the shelter of a convenient stone ; 

 at other times under a tile in the brick-fields, or even in 

 a drain-pipe their nest is frequently found. It is made 

 merely of dry grass, occasionally a little moss, and 

 sometimes lined with a few hairs. The eggs, four or 

 five in number, are about the size of a Sparrow's, and 

 bluish-white, speckled and blotched with ashy-gray. 

 Young Wagtails stay in their parents' company some 

 time after they quit the nest ; indeed, in some cases 

 they keep company right through the autumn and 

 winter months. It is a pleasing sight to see a brood of 

 young Wagtails and their parents. The little creatures, 

 some time before they are able to fly, will leave the nest 

 and wait patiently the arrival of their parents with food, 

 but upon the least alarm they take refuge in the nesting- 

 hole, as they also do at nightfall. In the breeding 

 season the trustfulness of the Wagtail is often very con- 

 siderable. I once knew a Wagtail's nest in a hole of the 

 wall bordering a large sheet of water, in fact, the nest 

 was but a few inches from it. It contained four young 

 ones, which were continually running in and out of the 

 hole which contained their nest ; and by keeping per- 

 fectly still, they approached me closely, and I had the 

 pleasure of seeing the old birds, undaunted by the baneful 

 presence of man, feed their offspring with a few crumbs 

 that I scattered for them. When the young have gained 

 the full use of their wings the nest is abandoned for 

 ever, and we see them on the fallow land and pastures. 

 Here they are still fed by the old birds, and it is pleasing 

 to observe the actions of both old and young at this 

 period. We can instantly tell the young birds from 

 their parents by their being dressed in a garb much 

 lighter, and by the drooping wings with which they 

 welcome the advent of the old birds with food. See 



