Chapter XXXV. 



WAGTAILS AND BUNTINGS. 



Extremes meet when such immense birds as cranes and 

 such little ones as wagtails find themselves in consecutive 

 chapters. But having done our duty to size it is now allowable 

 to make our bow to symmetry and rural simplicity. This we 

 gladly do by calling our readers' attention to a genus at once 

 dainty, shapely, and refined as well as confiding and familiar. 

 The wagtails are no exotics to any of us. England, France, 

 Germany, and most of the countries of the Old World, 

 including China, may claim one or more of the wagtails as 

 their own, and in most lands their free and easy habits 

 make them general favourites. Not only will they allow the 

 near approach of man, but they are even more familiar with 

 cattle, sheep, and horses, round whom they run and fly in 

 pursuit of flies and other insects. They may often be seen 

 darting about under the bellies of horses, and between their 

 legs, the quadruped knowing from pleasant experience that 

 the pretty little feathered biped is one of his best friends. 

 Even the domestic cat, enemy as she is to birds — not 

 excluding wagtails — is apparently permitted to stalk, and 

 stalk, nearer and nearer to a pair of them when chasing 

 insects on the lawn. Only a few days ago I was an 

 interested spectator of such an incident. A pair of wagtails 

 which I had been watching for some little time, suddenly 

 became aware that a neighbour's black cat was eagerly 

 glaring at them from the edge of the grass. They, of course, 

 were well out in the open, and apparently took not the 

 slightest notice. Little by little the cat made her approach, 

 catlike, her body pressed to the ground, her loose shoulder 

 joints showing well up above her back as she cautiously 

 moved inch by inch nearer her intended prey. They, either in 

 real or well simulated earnest, remained intent on flies. When 

 both their backs were turned grimalkin would make a rapid 

 move of perhaps three yards. Then he wasgluedto the ground 

 again. This continued for some time, a perfect object lesson 

 in what turned out to be hopeless stalking. When within 

 seven or eight yards the cat made a rush, and with a spring 

 tried for the nearest. This was evidently what the wagtails 

 wanted. To them it was a game. Up they went with their 



