PIED WAGTAIL. 399 
duced by them was loud and incessant. The nest was 
built near the wheel of a lathe, which revolved within a 
foot of it. In this strange situation the bird hatched four 
young ones; but the male, not having accustomed him- 
self to such company, instead of feeding the nestlings him- 
self, as is usual, carried such food as he collected to a 
certain spot on the roof, where he left it, and from whence 
it was borne by his mate to the young. It is still more 
remarkable that she was perfectly familiar with the men 
into whose shop she had intruded, and flew in and out 
of it without fear. If by chance a stranger, or any other 
of the persons employed in the same factory, entered the 
room, she would, if in her nest, instantly quit it, or if 
absent, would not return; the moment, however, that they 
were gone, she resumed her familiarity.” 
When the young are able to follow the parents, the 
little family may be seen in meadows very busy about the 
feet of the cattle while grazing, availing themselves, as 
White observes, of the flies that settle on their legs, and 
probably feeding on the worms and larve that are roused 
by the trampling of their feet. 
The Pied Wagtail is exceedingly common over the 
whole of the United Kingdom ; and in all the southern 
parts it is resident throughout the year. In summer it is 
observed in the Scottish islands; but is more numerous in 
Orkney than in Shetland, and quits both these northern 
parts as soon as their breeding season is over. They also 
quit Scotland, and some of the more northern counties of 
England before winter, and appear to be somewhat gre- 
garious in their habits when on the move from one locality 
to another, small flocks bemg occasionally seen about the 
vernal and autumnal periods of change. Considering our 
bird as a distinct species, I have not identified it with the 
