114 Sjmimcr Studies of Birds and Books chap. 



now and then performed the feat of running side- 

 ways along the wires, holding on chiefly by means 

 of the hind claw, which is very long. This claw was 

 brought round below the wire to join the others, and 

 thus around each wire a complete little ring was 

 formed, which seemed to slide along it when the 

 birds moved. 



The tail of this bird is not so long in proportion 

 as in the two other Wagtails, nor is it moved so 

 frequently or regularly. As he runs about among 

 the cows you will see very little "wagging" going on 

 — hardly more than in the common Meadow-pipit. 

 But no sooner does he take to flight than his tail 

 becomes the most conspicuous part of him ; it 

 seems to twist and open, showing clearly the pure 

 white outer feathers, and when he once more 

 alights, it will be vibrated two or three times. 

 Then the movement ceases, and the white is hardly 

 to be seen. 



The mention of tails brings me naturally to the 

 last and the most beautiful of our three species, the 

 so-called Gray Wagtail of the running streams; for 

 in his case the tail is not only the most prominent 

 feature, as it is in all Wagtails, but is longer than in 

 the rest, and in much more constant motion. Here 

 there are no ornithological puzzles to detain us. It 

 seems that you may roam over the whole continents 

 of Europe and Asia, and see the same bird that 



