CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 2. PASSERES. 



135 



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THE PIED WAGTAIL — FEMALE, 



THE SYLVID^ OR WARBLERS. 



This is a very extensive family, including the War/ fails, Titlarks, Bush-Cree2)ers, Titmice, 

 Robins^ Nightingales, and True Warblers — noted for their sprightliness. and many of them for 

 their fine musical powers. 



THE MOTACILLIN^ OR WAGTAILS. 



This group includes a large number of species of small birds, belonging to Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa, generally of sober colors, but beautiful in form. Some are fine songsters; all are distin- 

 guished for vivacity and sprightliness of air and manner. The bill is moderately long, straight, and 

 slender ; the wings long and pointed ; the tail nearly twice the length of the body, and remark- 

 able for a constant jerking motion, which has given these birds their common name. They live 

 in meadows and pastures, run swiftly, and have an exceedingly graceful, buoyant, and undulating 



THE GUAY WAGTAIL. 



flight. On alighting upon the ground, they spread the tail, and while running along, constantly 

 vibrate the body and tail in a very singular manner. Their food consists of insects and worms ; 

 theirnests are made upon the ground, amid herbage and stones, and they lay from four to six spotted 

 eggs. Their note is short and shrill, and is often repeated as they run about in search of their prey. 

 They frequent streams and pools, and may often be seen wading in shallow brooks. This habit of 

 dabbling in the water has given them the name of Lavandieres, or Washer-women, in France. 



