TIED WAGTAIL. 399 



ducecl by them was loud and incessant. The nest was 

 built near the wheel of a lathe, which revolved within a 

 foot of it. In this strange situation the bird hatched four 

 young ones ; but the male, not having accustomed him- 

 self to such company, instead of feeding the nestlings him- 

 self, as is usual, carried such food as he collected to a 

 certain spot on the roof, where he left it, and from whence 

 it was borne by his mate to the young. It is still more 

 remarkable that she was perfectly familiar with the men 

 into whose shop she had intruded, and flew in and out 

 of it without fear. If by chance a stranger, or any other 

 of the persons employed in the same factory, entered the 

 room, she would, if in her nest, instantly quit it, or if 

 absent, would not return ; the moment, however, that they 

 were gone, she resumed her familiarity." 



When the young are able to follow the parents, the 

 little family may be seen in meadows very busy about the 

 feet of the cattle while grazing, availing themselves, as 

 White observes, of the flies that settle on their legs, and 

 probably feeding on the worms and larvae that are roused 

 by the trampling of their feet. 



The Pied Wagtail is exceedingly common over the 

 whole of the United Kingdom ; and in all the southern 

 parts- it is resident throughout the year. In summer it is 

 observed in the Scottish islands ; but is more numerous in 

 Orkney than in Shetland, and quits both these northern 

 parts as soon as their breeding season is over. They also 

 quit Scotland, and some of the more northern counties of 

 England before winter, and appear to be somewhat gre- 

 garious in their habits when on the move from one locality 

 to another, small flocks being occasionally seen about the 

 vernal and autumnal periods of change. Considering our 

 bird as a distinct species, I have not identified it with the 



