BRITISH HIKDS. 183 



leaping after flies and other insects, on which it 

 feeds. Its usual haunts are the shallow margins 

 of springs and running waters, into which it will 

 sometimes \vade a little in pursuit of its food. 

 They make their nest on the ground, of dry 

 grass, moss, and small roots, lined with hair and 

 feathers, and have been known sometimes to 

 breed in the deserted nest of the Swallow 7 , in 

 chimnies; the female lays five white eggs, spot- 

 ted with brown. They are very attentive to their 

 young, and continue to feed and train them for 

 three or four weeks after they are able to fly: they 

 defend them with great courage when in danger, or 

 endeavour to draw aside the enemy by various 

 little arts. They are very attentive to the cleanli- 

 ness of the nest, and have been known to remove 

 light substances, such as paper or straw, which 

 have been laid as a mark to find it by. 



The Wagtail is said by some authors to migrate 

 into other climates about the end of October; with 

 us it is known to change its quarters as the win- 

 ter approaches, from north to south. Its note is 

 small and insignificant, but frequently repeated, 

 especially while on the Aving. 



