30 THE WATEH- WAGTAIL. 



themselves in the centre of an old Magpie's nest, 

 where, surrounded by a prickly defence of thorns, 

 &c., they had built their little warm nest without 

 fear of molestation. 



The interior of a skull, as well as the interior of a 

 Magpie's nest; were, (however singular,) at least, 

 better suited to the sedentary life of a bird when 

 sitting on her eggs, than the noisy workshop of a 

 brass-founder's factory; yet, in such an unlocked for 

 place did a female Water- Wagtail once build her 

 nest, within a foot of the wheel of a lathe, in the 

 midst of the din of hammers and braziers. There, 

 unmolested and unconcerned, she hatched four young 

 ones. The cock, not reconciled to such a scene, in- 

 stead of taking his part in feeding the nestlings, 

 carried the food he collected to a spot on the roof, 

 where he left it, till the hen fetched it when wanted. 

 She became quite familiar with the men who were 

 constantly employed in the shop, and flew in and 

 out, without showing signs of fear; but if a stranger 

 approached, she immediately flew off her nest, or, if 

 absent, would not return until he had departed. 



We once found a Wagtail's nest under the half- 

 deck of a pleasure-boat, which was anchored on a 

 sheet of water. Several times, from the discovery 

 of the nest, to the final departure of the young ones, 

 we embarked and sailed about, the old birds keep- 

 ing a look-out upon our motions, and frequently 

 alighting on the gunwale, and finally rearing and 

 flying off with their brood. 



The Redstart, one of our prettiest summer birds 

 of passage, though in its general habits very shy, is 

 frequently in the choice of position for its nest, the 



