41 



THE PLOUGHMA^iT'S BIEDS. 



By Geo. Egberts. 



Pied Wagtail. Of all the feathered friends of the farmer perhaps the 

 Pied "Wagtail is the most useful, every day in summer, and in winter when 

 the ground is not frozen, is tliis little bird performing eminent service for 

 him, and this service is entirely unmixed with evil. It is the ploughman's 

 constant companion, no other bird is so regular in its attendance on the 

 plough, being ready to search for, and pick up the lurking enemies of vege- 

 tation the moment the first furrow is upturned in the early morning. The 

 smallest fields and those that are situated among dwelling houses are fre- 

 quented, as well as those which are large and remote from villages. Leaving 

 its usefulness out of consideration its pretty plumage, and lively manners 

 renders it a general favourite. When in the arable field it often perches on 

 a .clod and sings, its song is rapid, clear, and sweet, not unlike that of the 

 swallow. It will sing on a stone, a post, or rail, but not often in hedges. 

 Its almost general exemption from persecution renders it remarkably tame 

 and confiding ; it vnll continue its search for insects in the fresh earth till 

 the horses get within a few feet of it, it will then fly round the ploughman 

 and drop into the furrow again close behind him. As it approaches the field 

 it is self-heralding ; its loud, clear note being seldom mistaken ; it is also 

 well known by its peculiar flight. From its undulating or " ducking" flight 

 it is named in some districts the " Bessie ducker," a name by no means 

 inappropriate. 



Gray Wagtail. This Wagtail is more handsome, and no less indefa- 

 tigable as an insect hunter than the preceding. Many of its manners are 

 very similar. It is rather more fearful, flying away further when alarmed. 

 Its note is shriller, and its flight is undulating, but somewhat more rapid. It 

 is a permanent resident here, and it may be seen following the plough in Feb- 

 ruary and March. Very few breed in my immediate neighbourhood, I have 

 ; never yet found a nest. 



Yellow Wagtail. This species comes about the 22nd of April. It is 

 more frequent here in summer than the gray one, though it is not common. 

 ' It likes to hunt among the fresh soil, and will perch on a clod and sing as 

 [No. 52, August ], d 



