144 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



They frequent the margins of waters, clear springs 

 and pools, in retired places, and they build their 

 nests mostly under stones or in holes near the 

 banks, and feed chiefly on aquatic insects and 

 worms. They move with alacrity and glee, every 

 now and then dipping the head, and anon recover- 

 ing their balance by the peculiar motion of the tail. 

 There are four British species, of which the 



PIED and the YELLOW WAGTAIL are the most com- 







mon. The former, with its variegated plumage 

 of black and white, is deservedly admired for 

 its elegance, activity, and airy lightness, and is 

 exceedingly common over the whole of the United 

 Kingdom, being resident in the southern parts, 

 throughout the year. A gentleman who kept a 

 variety of these birds, in a large aviary, writing 

 to Mr. Yarrell, says, " During the summer and 

 autumn of 1837, I had several wagtails; the 

 pied and the yellow, both of which were very 

 expert in catching and feeding on minnows, which 

 were in a fountain in the centre of the aviary. 

 The birds hover over the water, and as they skim 

 the surface, catch the minnow when it approaches 

 to the top of the water in the most dexterous 

 manner. I was much surprised at the wariness 

 and cunning of some blackbirds and thrushes in 

 watching the wagtails thus engaged, and imme- 

 diately seizing the prize for their own dinner." 



