390 



DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS. — CLASS IL AVES. 



with liis merry song. A bluebird, of well-known manners, occupies with 

 his mate tlie same box every year, ami his appearance is at about the same 

 date every spring. 



A number of swallows have, for several years lately, occupied nests in 

 a barn in Milton, INIass., and when they arrive in the spring, they repair 

 at once to these old nests, and furnish them anew. Birds of prey, — eagles, 

 hawks, and owls, — it is well known, use the same nest for several years; 

 in fact, tiicre are many proofs that our birds become attached to a certain 

 locality, and fre(pient it afterwards, until they are prevented by accident, or 

 are driven away by design. 



The iood of our swallows, consisting of the smaller insects, is almost 

 always taken while on the wing. They often completely fill the throat with 

 their insect prey, so as to distend it like a pouch, doubtless in order that 

 their nestlings may have a full supply at each visit. 



The female is very assiduous in tlie nurture of her young. She leads 

 them, as soon as they are able to leave the nest, to a fence, rail, or ridge of 

 a house, or barn roof, where, settled in a row, and as yet unable to exert 

 their piuinns in fligiit, she sujiplics them bountifully with food. In a i'cw 

 days they follow her on the wing, where they are fed by her and her mate, 

 and soon they are able to j)rovide for themselves. 



Family ^loTACiLLin.i.. The Wagtails. 



In this group are included the ^lotdriUliiu;, of which the Wliite "Wagtail 

 is the type, and the Aittliimr, or Titlarks, of which our common Titlark 

 (^I. J/((lt/ririiiiii(s) is a good representative. 



Tiie Wagtails ai'c restricted to tlic Old A^'orld, but one species (Mutacilla 

 alba) being found on this continent as a very rare wanderer from Europe. 

 Tliey are numerous, there being many species scattered through Europe, 

 Asia, and Africa. They are generally sober in plumage, but many of tlieni 

 are possessed of considerable powers of song. Tiic wings are long and 

 pointed, the tail nearly twice the length of the l)odv, and its constant jerk- 

 ing motion has given tlie birds their couuniiu name. Tliey ti-eijuent ojien 

 pastures, meadows, and fields, run swiftly, and ha\e an exceedingly grace- 

 ful, buoyant, and undulating flight. "On alighting on the ground, they 

 spread the tail, and while running along, constantly vilirate the body and 

 tail in a very singular manner. Tiieir food consists of insects and worms ; 

 their nests are made upon the ground, amid herbage and stones, and they 

 lay from four to six spotted eggs. Their note is usually short and shrill, 

 and is often repeated as tliey run aljout in search of tiieir prey." 



The American Titlark is not very ainind.mt in any portion of this coun- 

 try, being found here seldom iu any other season than the fall and winter 



