PIED WAGTAIL. 
207 
is complete ; 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 sud¬ 
denly become at this period. There is scarcely a pool, 
road-side ditch, or village horse-jjond, 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 disappear from the throat in both 
sexes, and the dorsal plumage becomes of a lighter colour in 
each ; the back of the male assuming the grey of the female, 
during the breeding season ; while that of the female, and the 
young of the year in both sexes, changes to a very light grey. 
Indeed, between the two latter there is no external differ¬ 
ence of appearance. 
“About the middle of August the Pied Wagtails commence 
their return towards the sea-coast, and now first appear to be 
gregarious in their habits. At this season I have noticed 
them in considerable numbers on village commons, and 
similar localities in the interior of the country, where they 
remain but a few days, and then proceed to the south. 
“At the latter end of the month, or the beginning of 
September, they may be seen near the sea, in flocks of from 
thirty to forty, flying invariably from west to east, parallel 
with the shore, and following each other in constant succes¬ 
sion. These flights continue from daylight until about ten 
o’clock in the forenoon ; and it is a remarkable fact, that so 
steadily do they pursue this course, and so pertinacious are 
