OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS. 399 



White, sometimes preening their feathers and spreading their wings 

 to the sun, and then flying off all together, but soon returning to 

 their former situation. The greatest part of these birds seem to be 

 young ones. MARKWICK. 



WAGTAILS. 



While the cows are feeding in the moist low pastures, broods of 

 wagtails, white and grey, run round them, close up to their noses, 

 and under their very bellies, availing themselves of the flies that 

 settle on their legs, and probably finding worms and larvce that are 

 roused by the trampling of their feet. Nature is such an economist, 

 that the most incongruous animals can avail themselves of each 

 other. 



Interest makes strange friendships. WHITE. 



Birds continually avail themselves of particular and unusual 

 circumstances to procure their food ; thus wagtails keep playing 

 about the noses and legs of cattle as they feed, in quest of flies and 

 other insects which abound near those animals ; and great numbers 

 of them will follow close to the plough to devour the worms, &c., 

 that are turned up by that instrument. The redbreast attends the 

 gardener when digging his borders ; and will, with great familiarity 

 and tameness, pick out the worms, almost close to his spade, 

 as I have frequently seen. Starlings and magpies very often 

 sit on the backs of sheep and deer to pick out their ticks. 

 MARKWICK. 



WRYNECK. 



These birds appear on the grass-plots and walks ; they walk a 

 little as well as hop, and thrust their bills into the turf, in quest, I 

 conclude, of ants, which are their food. While they hold their bills 

 in the grass they draw out their prey with their tongues, which are 

 so long as to be coiled round their heads. WHITE. 



GROSBEAK. 



Mr. B. shot a cock grosbeak which he had observed to haunt his 

 garden for more than a fortnight. I began to accuse this bird of 



