WARBLERS. 87 



motion up and down. Their colours are chiefly 

 black, white, grey, and yellow, arranged in masses 

 with strong contrasts. 



The true Wagtails are well known as the re- 

 gular frequenters of the marshy meadow, the 

 grassy banks of the placid river, or the pebbly 

 margin of the brawling brook ; the roaring mill- 

 stream of the village is attended by its little 

 group of " Dishwashes," as the country swains 

 term them, and others run hither and thither 

 among the rocks that border the lonely mountain 

 torrent. They wade into the shallows to pick up 

 water-insects and their larvae, as well as small 

 pond-snails and other mollusca, run at flies that 

 are resting on the herbage, and pursue with a 

 short low flight such as they arouse to take 

 wing. " When the cows are feeding in the moist 

 low pastures," says White of Selborne (and every 

 one must have seen the observation confirmed), 

 " 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 larvae 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." 

 Four or five species are found with us, of 

 which the Pied Wagtail (Motacilla Yarrellii, 

 GOULD) is the most abundant. Its colours are 

 chiefly black and white ; the former spreading 

 over the upper parts, and forming a large patch 

 on the throat and breast : the latter being the 

 hue of the forehead, sides of the head and neck, 

 the lower parts, and the external feathers of the 



