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THE WHITE WAGTAIL. 

 (Motacilla alba.) 



WAGTAILS are all migrants and arrive in Hungary in 

 great numbers. 



This is a lively, elegant little bird, that walks and runs 

 well, is very active, and always wagging its tail as it goes. 

 It hops daintily from stone to stone in the shallow water, 

 picking up insects busily, and snapping at the flies and 

 gnats; and over the tall grasses and banks of the water, it 

 dashes into the air, turning and twisting in the pursuit of 

 insects. When there is pasture land near the water, it 

 shows itself to be a good friend to the cattle, by destroy- 

 ing the flies and gnats and the tiny midges of the 

 dragonfly kind, which would otherwise torment them. 

 Its congeners in Hungary are the Yellow Wagtail, 

 whose underpart is bright yellow, and mantle olive- 

 green, which wags its tail less, and confines itself to 

 cattle pastures; the Mountain Wagtail, the upper part 

 of which is ashen-grey, and the under side brimstone 

 yellow. Its call is a clear " Zeeivit-suyit-beuees, or 

 zeueess," sometimes it sounds like " Kwee-kwee, 

 kweereeree-kiveeree , ' ' 



The Wagtail is 7*5 inches in length, and has 

 a long tail. It is a very charming bird. Its 

 plumage is of three colours black, white, and ashen- 

 grey. Crown, neck, and throat black; brow, cheeks, 

 and underparts white; mantle grey; tail and wings 

 black, the feathers of the latter being edged with white ; 

 the two outer feathers on both sides of the tail are mostly 

 white. Rump dark-grey, underneath the tail white; bill 



