THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. 



of life assigned to these creatures requires great 

 activity of body ; for living solely upon insects and 

 winged animals, they are constantly capturing or 

 pursuing ; and their length of tail, which is per- 

 petually 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 animal, 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 grey fly- 

 catcher ! 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, with- 

 out collision or contention for the object. 



Admirably adapted to the requirements of each 

 creature as their dispositions and institutions are 

 known to be, yet their peculiar modes of dieting, or 

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