THE TOOTH-BILLED PBRCHEK8. 249 



birds, where they may almost always be seen, running about by the 

 water's edge, sometimes snatching at an incautious may-fly, some- 

 times wading into the water after a caddis-worm or a stray grub, — 

 nor is it quite safe for a minnow to come too near the surface, — and 

 then flying off to another spot to 

 repeat the same manoeuvres. This 

 bird also greatly frequents pas- 

 tures, and may be seen running ' ^l,. 

 about among the cows in the most 

 nonchalant manner imaginable, 



, , . , „. , Wagtail. 



catching the flies that torment 



those animals in the summer, or flying off to its unfinished nest 

 with a beak full of hairs. Their nests are built near the water, 

 in crevices among stones, or in the hole of a wall. Frequently 

 when stones are piled by a wet quarry, several nests may be found 

 in one heap of stones. The eggs are four or five in number, of a 

 dusky white color, spotted with ashy brown. The length of the 

 bird is seven inches and a half. 



The Meadow Pipit, more commonly called the Titlark, 

 resembles the true larks in the long hind claw and peculiar 

 olumage, but is pointed out as distinct, from the different color of 

 the bill. Like the skylark, it sings while in the air, but some- 

 times also pours forth its musical strains while settled upon the 

 ground. It feeds principally on slugs, worms, and insects, which 

 it chases with much activity, after the manner of the wagtails, 

 even vibrating its tail like them. Hilly grounds, commons, and 

 meadows are, its chief resort in summer, but during September 

 and October flocks of these birds may be seen congregated in 

 turnip fields, and in the winter they seek the protection of the warm 

 hedge-rows. 



The nest of the Titlark is made on the ground, concealed 

 bj a tuft of grass. There are usually five or six eggs, light brown 

 in color, spotted with a darker tint. The length of the bird is 

 uiz inches. 



The Misseltoe Thrush, or Stormcock, according to War 

 terton, " surpasses all other thrushes in size, and is decidedly the 



