THE PIED WAGTAIL. 



Motacilla YarreUil. 

 ,, Alba. 



E Water Wagtail, or, as it is 

 commonly called, the t( Dish- 

 washer/' is the commonest, and 

 therefore the best known, of the 

 British Wagtails. It is a smart, 

 active little bird, frequenting the 

 sides of nearly every pool, pond, 

 or brook in the country. In 

 such localities it may be met 

 with at all times of the day, 

 either nimbly running over the 

 stones, mud, and aquatic vege- 

 tation, or taking short upward 

 flights in pursuit of insects. 



The Wagtail derives its name 

 from the constant habit of ele- 

 vating its tail with a quick 

 jerky motion, as though desirous 

 of keeping the plumage clean 

 and dry. It runs very quickly, 

 and flies with an alternate rising 

 and falling in the air. This pe- 

 culiar flight is one of its most 



observable characteristics, and the bird may readily be dis- 

 tinguished by it from almost all others. 



