170 THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. 



probable that their migrations are not very remote. The 

 mode of life assigned to these creatures requires great 

 activity of body ; for living solely upon insects and 

 winged animals, they are constantly capturing or pur- 

 suing ; and their length of tail, which is perpetually in 

 motion, seems to aid and balance the operations of the 

 body. In the evening, when the winged creatures are 

 at rest, or, from the state of the atmosphere, in repose, 

 the wagtail resorts to the pastures, feeding under the 

 very bodies and noses of the cattle, who now become 

 the starters of his game, which, moving from the ani- 

 mal, are captured by the bird. Being drowsy, and 

 settling almost as soon as disturbed, their prey would 

 escape, was the wagtail less nimble in his actions for 

 he does not appear to perceive the insect, except when 

 it moves. How differently formed is this bird and the 

 gray flycatcher ! Though both are solely insectivorous, 

 yet they secure their prey by very distinct means, the 

 latter seldom capturing on the ground or using his legs 

 in pursuit ; the other uses actively his slender legs and 

 extended wings to aid him. The swallow race, again, 

 feed unlike them both,- and haunting the pool, the 

 stream, the mead, or the higher regions of the air, 

 which his fraternity possess as a peculiar domain, satisfy 

 their wants in peace, without collision or contention 

 for the object. 



Admirably adapted to the requirements of each crea- 

 ture as their dispositions and institutions are known to 

 be, yet their peculiar modes of dieting, or inclination 

 for particular food, and formation of the organs that 

 digest it, should not be utterly unheeded, because by 

 these appointments of Omniscience, abundance is pro- 

 duced for every race of created things in all places, 

 without variance or unfitting exertions to procure it. 

 Could we unite into one district a human being from 

 every square mile upon the surface of the globe, un- 

 shackled by bigotry or the tenets of any faith, they 

 probably, without reluctance, having the means, might 

 feed upon and be nourished by one natural diet we 

 will say the flesh of the ox, with potatoes or rice 

 but this is by no means the case with the inferior ani- 



