THE PIED WAGTAIL. lOQ 



the migrating bands, consisting chiefly of the 

 young of the year, accumulate in vast flocks, 

 and thus they seek the adjoining county of Kent, 

 whence the voyage to the continent may be 

 performed with ease and security even by birds 

 but a few months old, and unequal to protracted 

 flights.* 



The habits of the Pied Wagtail are so 

 generally known, that little need be said 

 here upon the subject. Its partiality for shal- 

 low water, where it preys upon aquatic insects, 

 and even small fish, such as minnows and stickle- 

 backs, has led to its being familiarly known as 

 the Water Wagtail, although it is not more 

 aquatic in its habits than other members of the 

 genus, indeed, scarcely so much as one species, 

 the Grey Wagtail, whose haunts seem insepa- 

 rable from the water-side. 



1 For this abstract of Mr. Knox's observa.tions, taken 

 from his " Ornithological Rambles in Sussex," I am indebted 

 to Professor Newton, who has thus ably condensed them in 

 his new edition of Yarrell's " History of British Birds." 



