(47) 



The JVater-Wagtail Motacilla Alba. ^^uao^j^ 



Numb.XLIX. ^ ^ 



ITS Length, from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail, feven 

 Inches and three quarters ; Breadth, when the Wings are extended, 

 eleven Inches; weight fix Drams. The Bill is ftreight, flender, fharp 

 pointed, and black, not an Inch long ; the Tongue cloven, the Mouth 

 black within. The hides of the Eyes hazel coloured : The Feet, Toes 

 and Claws long, fharp pointed and blackifh ; the Back-Claw very long 

 as in Larks. A white Spot from the Bill encompaffes the Eyes and {ides 

 of the Throat, the top of the Head, upper and lower Side of the Neck, 

 as far as the Breaft and Back, are black: The Breaft and Belly white. 



The Wings, when fpread, are of a femicircular Figure ; the quill Feathers 

 of each Wing are eighteen in number, of which the three outermoft end 

 in fharp Points ; the tips of the middle ones are blunt and indented ; the 

 inmofl are adorned with white Lines ; the covert Feathers of the firfl 

 Row are black, having their Tips and Edges white : Thofe of the fecond 

 Row have only white Tips. 



Its Tail is about three Inches and a half long, which it almoflcon- 

 tinually wags up and down, from whence it took its Name. The Tail 

 hath twelve Feathers, of which the two middlemoft are longer than the 

 reft, and fharp pointed; the others all of equal Length; the outermoft are 

 almoft wholly white, the reft black. Thefe Birds differ in Colour very 

 much, fome being more cinereous and fome blacker. 



It frequents Pools and watry places ,• its Food is Files and Water Infe^Sy 

 Worms and fmall Beetles. 



It is faid the Qickow-Chkken is hatched and brought up by this Bird. 

 See Albertus in the Chapter of the Cuckow, 





The 



