UK) XORTII AMERICAN lUIIDS. 



North American fauna us an ..ccasi.uml visitant of (hwnlan.l, wi.ere in two 

 instances snioU, specimens liave been in'ocunal. It is fcund in all ]K)rti..ns 



ol the Eur()])ean Continent, from the 

 islands of tlie Mediterranean as far north 

 as the Arctic re<rions. It a]t|iears in Swe- 

 den in April, and leaves there in October. 

 Mr. (Jonld states also that it is found in 

 the northern portions of Africa, and in 

 the highlands of India. It also occurs, 

 though less fretjuently, in England, where 

 -ta^ "" '"^ '■''l'^'"'i^<l hy a local race, or an allied 



-' -.' ' spwies, J^/w///,/ //^,m7//of (iould. The 



Mniadiin ,Mu. MoliicUlu cMu is Said I )y Temniinck to iii- 



hahit meadows in the vicinity of streams 

 ot water, v.Uages, an<l -hi houses. Its fo<.d is chieHy insects in various sta-^es 

 and of ditl'erent kinds. 



It builds its nest on the ground among the grass of the mi.adow, in fissures 

 ui rocks or dcviyeil buihling.s, among the r.ots ..f trees, on the banks of 

 streams, m ])des of wood and fagots, or undei' the arch of a l)iidge. The 

 nests are somewhat coarsely constructed of interw..\en drv bent Ttems of 

 I.lants and reeds, with a finer lining o[ the same. The egg.s, si.x in number, 

 are (.f a bluish-white ground thickly sprinkled with line dOttings, which are' 

 most usually of a. Ijhickish-brown color, sometimes ashy-grav or reddish- 

 brown. 



The T'ied Wagtail, J/. ,y,ovr///, Degland and (lerbe regard as a race, and 

 not a s])ecies. It has a limited halutat, confined to Norway, Sweden' and 

 the IJritisli Mand.s, in the latter of which it is a resident throughout the 

 year. IJesides their diHerence in i)lumage, Mr. Varrell has noticed certain 

 •hUerences also of habit. The o/b„ is said not to be so partial to water as 

 tlu^ pied si)ecies, and though often found near ploughed land, does not, like 

 Its kindred species, follow the i)h)ugh in search of in.sects. Mr. Hewitson also 

 states that it has a hoarser voice. 



Like all the birds of this family, the Wagtail is much admire.I for the ele- 

 gance of its lorm, its activity, and the airy lightness of its motion.s. It seems 

 ever on the move, runs with great rapidity a .piick succession of stejis in 

 pursuit of its food, and goes from ])hice to ].hic(^ in short undulating Hi-hts. 

 It has a cheerful ciiirping note which it utters while on the wing. When it 

 alights, it gives a graceful fanning movement with its tail, from which it 

 derives its name. 



Tlic I'ied Wagtail, wlio.se habits have been more closely observed by Eng- 

 lish naturali,sts, has freciuently been seen to wade into the water in search ol' 

 aquatic insects, and im.bably also of small fish, as in confinement they have 

 been known to catch and feed on minnows in a fountain in the centre of their 

 aviary. It is jirobable that tlie habits ui the White Wagtail are n.^t dissimilar. 



