THE GRAY WAGTAIL. 59 



stantly to be observed ; and few species, which from their 

 habits we might designate u semi-water birds," add more to 

 the picturesque than a pair of these wagtails, so replete with 

 grace and beauty. 



The breeding places generally chosen are ivied walls, cre- 

 vices in bridges, or old buildings, which are overhung with 

 decayed herbage, under whose cover the nest is formed, and 

 the eggs deposited. 



At no time are we compelled more to bestow our fullest meed 

 of approbation on this species than when observed searching for 

 food by the river side. Now picking its steps as daintily as any 

 boarding-school miss upon a wet day, it ventures cautiously 

 into the water. But, careless of the admirers of its under- 

 standing if it does hold up its long-tailed feathers, and show 

 a portion of its tiny leg, it is only a matter of necessity, and 

 nothing more. Now picking up the water insects which had 

 rested in fancied security beside that tuft of green herbage, 

 it becomes so overjoyed that, unable to walk composedly, it 

 actually launches its tiny form into the air for an aerial ex- 

 cursion, and is not completely sobered until blown down the 

 river before the wind for some hundred yards. It now 

 alights demurely upon some wall, and commences the rapid 

 wagging motion of that ever graceful tail. 



Perhaps at no time had a small bird appealed more directly 

 to our feelings of sympathy than on the following occasion. 

 In the autumn of 1845, whilst passing along our noble line of 

 quays, near Essex-bridge, a male of this species flew within 

 a few yards of our face, screaming its shrill alarm-cry, and, 

 from the intensity with which it was uttered, it appeared to 

 have been held in the clutches of some hawk or cat. It was 

 joined with a mate also, in the same terror as the male, both 

 birds screaming and flying backwards and forwards with their 

 beautiful fan-shaped tails widely extended. On looking to- 

 wards the centre of the river we observed their nest floating 

 down with the tide ; from the sides of the frail ark occa- 

 sionally protruded the head of one or other of the ill-fated 

 young, as every motion of the water seemed to threaten its 

 dissolution. Soon many were attracted to the painful spec- 

 tacle, witnessing this sad picture of maternal care ; and who 

 would not feel moved at a sight so sad, or look on with indif- 

 ference ? 



Indigenous. 



