162 PIED WAGTAIL. 



a little stone; now flying off on a sudden to join some 

 neighbouring troop of companions, whose companionship it 

 greets with a shrill though gentle twitter; now springing into 

 the air to capture a fly ; now threading its way among a herd 

 of cattle, or a flock of domestic birds; still almost heedlessly 

 awaiting your near approach. If disturbed, it springs up with 

 a sharp but delicate note of alarm, and after a few aerial 

 bounds frequently alights again, but sometimes goes right 

 away. 



The parent bird is extremely solicitous for the safety of 

 her young, and will almost suffer herself to be taken off the 

 nest sooner than forsake them. If she does fly off, it is only 

 to a short distance, and immediately the danger is past she 

 is back to her post. The young continue with their parents 

 during the summer and autumn, the difference in their respective 

 plumage pointing each out at a glance. 



The flight of this bird is light and undulated, but unsteady. 

 It rises and falls alternately, renewing the motion of its wings 

 at the pause of each descent. 



Its food is chiefly composed of insects; and these, as Mr. 

 Macgillivray well describes, are sought in various diverse 

 localities. Actively and dexterously the bird steps among 

 rocks and stones, and then pitching on the top of one, instantly 

 vibrates its tail, as if poising itself. Again it makes an aerial 

 sally, flutters about a little, seizes an insect or two, then glides 

 over the ground, swerving to either side, and resumes its 

 attitude of momentary pause. Sometimes it essays an excursion 

 over the water, one while darting forwards in a straight line, 

 then hovering in the same spot, to seize some prey; and 

 then, as if fatigued with the unwonted effort, it makes a 

 sudden detour, and betakes itself to some offering place of 

 rest. At times it may be seen running along the ridge of 

 the top of a house, and every now and then capturing a fly. 

 It has been asserted that it also feeds on minnows, the small 

 fry of fish, and on minute shell-fish. 



The note is a sharp cheep, which it repeats frequently when 

 alarmed, flying about in a wavering manner. It sometimes 

 aspires to a pleasant modulation, which may almost be dignified 

 with the name of a song. 



The nest is commenced in the beginning or middle of 

 April, according to the season. It is placed in situations of 

 very opposite kinds in a hole of a stone wall, the side of 

 a bridge, in a hollow of a tree, on a heap of stones, the 



