138 Birds. 



breeze from the south, I have frequently seen them, on different parts 

 of the coast, flying directly from the south, and from such a distance 

 at sea as at first to be scarcely perceptible, gradually however becom- 

 ing more distinct, until they alighted near me on the open shore, some- 

 times singly, and at other times in small parties. The fields in the 

 neighbourhood of the coast, where but a short time before scarcely an 

 individual was to be found, are soon tenanted by numbers of this spe- 

 cies, and for several days they continue dropping on the shores in de- 

 tached parties. The old male birds arrive first, presenting the beautiful 

 jet black and pure white plumage of the breeding season ; while the fe- 

 males, and the males of the preceding year, which resemble the females, 

 the plumage on the back being of an iron grey, do not make their ap- 

 pearance until a few days aftei-wards. It may be observed that the 

 white on the forehead and cheeks of these newly arrived birds is much 

 more pure at this time than in those which winter in England, and al- 

 together they have a fresher, and, as it were, a cleaner appearance than 

 they themselves present a short time after their arrival in this country. 



Some of the old males appear to have paired before their departure 

 from the continent ; for after alighting on the shore they exhibit 

 many signs of restlessness and anxiety, performing short flights, and 

 incessantly calling for their mates. 



It is worthy of remark, that those pied wagtails which remain with 

 us during the winter, do not assume the summer garb at so early a 

 period as their travelled brethren ; indeed on the arrival of the latter, 

 who invariably make their appearance in the fiill breeding plumage, 

 the former have but partially commenced the change, — a few black 

 patches beginning to appear on the throat, and the light grey of the 

 back being varied with occasional feathers of a darker hue. In about 

 a fortnight afterwards this assumption of the breeding plumage is com- 

 plete, and at the expiration of that time the pied wagtails which have 

 arrived from the continent, and those which have remained in England 

 during the winter, present the same appearance. 



After remaining in the neighbourhood of the coast for a few days, 

 these birds proceed inland in a northern direction ; and any practical 

 observer of birds in the interior of the country may perceive how much 

 more numerous they suddenly become at this period. There is scarce- 

 ly a pool, roadside ditch, or village horse-pond, where they may not 

 be seen in pairs ; and in districts where but a week before the species 

 was but thinly distributed. 



These birds pair early and moult soon, having completed the change 

 at the end of July or early in August. The black feathers gradually 



