122 OUR ICATIVE SONGSTERS. 



over the water, and seized the minnow with gi*eat 

 dexterity as it approached the surface. He adds 

 that he was also much surprised at the wariness 

 and cunning of some blackbirds and thrushes, 

 which watched tlie wagtails during this process, 

 and no sooner saw them take the prey, than they 

 wickedly seized and secured it for their o^v^l 

 dinners. 



The pied wagtail appears to be a permanent 

 resident in the soutliern parts of England, but is 

 migratory in the northem counties, and in Scot- 

 land, leaving at the approach of winter, and 

 returning about February or March. In autumn 

 some of the pasture-lands, which are watered by 

 streams, are rendered quite lively by the gi'aceful 

 and incessant motions of small flocks of these 

 birds, which congregate there previously to taking 

 their departure. As evening comes on, they 

 retire into the bushes or copsewood near, making 

 an incessant clamour, till darkness has overtaken all 

 nature. As they wing their way onwards, with 

 their jerking flight, made at no gi-eat height in 

 the air, their noisy clamour would suggest the idea 

 that the whole party was engaged in quarrelling 

 with each other, no tvvo holding the same opinions. 



