38 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



Although so closely associated with water, the Wagtail 

 is unable to swim, but the ease and confidence with which 

 it moves over the floating leaves of water-plants render 

 this accomplishment quite superfluous. Besides its 

 partiality for the water-side, this little bird may fre- 

 quently be seen on lawns, in meadows, farm-yards, 

 roadways, and fields where ploughing is being carried on ; 

 indeed, this last is a very favourite resort, and the Wagtail 

 may be commonly noticed following closely on the heels of 

 the ploughman, and searching for food amongst the newly- 

 turned furrows with great activity and perseverance. 



In the selection of localities for building their nests, 

 these birds are somewhat erratic, and do not appear to have 

 any particular partiality ; sometimes they build in the 

 stonework of some old bridge or in the hollow of a tree, 

 whilst the sides of railway cuttings, the banks of streams, 

 low mud or stone walls, and faggot stacks are very fre- 

 quently made use of. The nest is built of stems of grass, 

 leaves, small roots, and moss, and is lined with wool, hair, 

 feathers, or any convenient soft substance. 



The eggs are five or six in number, of a long oval 

 form, light grey or greyish-blue in colour, and spotted all 

 over w r ith grey and brown ; they vary very much in size 

 and colour, and some are spotted thickly at the larger end, 

 the spots being in the shape of a belt. 



There are frequently two broods in the year ; the time 

 of hatching is about a fortnight, and both parents are 

 assiduously attentive to the young birds. The female is 

 especially solicitous for the well-being of her offspring, 

 rarely leaving them except for a very short time, and never 

 going very far away from her charge. 



The food of the Wagtail consists principally of insects, 



