THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. 77 



of it decidedly as migrating from northern coun- 

 tries at the approach of winter. 



The M. Boarula, on the contrary, makes his 

 appearance amongst us at that season, and de- 

 parts when the other wagtails come to us in the 

 spring. Unlike the Motacilla Provincialis, from 

 which we have just parted, the yellow wag- 

 tail does not make his abode in the lonely 

 waste, or unfrequented heath. Guided by the 

 unerring instinct implanted in their breasts by 

 the great Author of Nature, these little birds 

 fly to the cultivated lands best adapted to sup- 

 ply them with food, and follow in the tracks of 

 flocks and herds, where the flies and other in- 

 sects they seek may be the most abundantly 

 found. It is from their thus frequenting the 

 paths of the shepherd and the herdsman, that 

 the French have given them the name of Berge- 

 ronette, adding to it that of Print ems, from their 

 early appearance in spring. 



The Motacilla Alba or black-and-white water- 

 wagtail, is more universally known, and is indeed 

 more familiar with the human race. It is seen 

 continually near our habitations during the spring 

 and summer months, either flying and sporting 

 in the air, or running nimbly along the ground, 

 and leaping up after flies and other insects. Its 

 ebon and ivory plumage, jet black and pure 



