446 



WATER WAGTAILS, OR " DISHWASHERS." 



[Motacillce.) 



There are five species of Wagtails found in this country. 

 Of these only three are fairly common — the Pied Wagtail 

 [Motacilla lugubris), the Grey Wagtail (Motacilla melanope), 

 and the Yellow Wagtail [Motacilla Rait). The other two, the 

 White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) and the Blue-headed Wagtail 

 [Motacilla flava\ are comparatively rare in Great Britain. Few 

 other species of birds are so beneficial to agriculture as the 

 Wagtails, because their food is for the most part of a " soft " 

 character, comprising insects of all kinds and in all stages. 

 For this reason alone, leaving aside their harmlessness 

 to crops and their beauty, they deserve to be protected. 



These graceful birds do not figure in the original 

 schedules of the Wild Birds' Protection Act of 1880 ; but in 

 several counties in England, Wales, and Scotland some 

 of the species have been added to the schedule, and all 

 kinds of Wagtails are protected throughout the year in 

 the counties of London, Middlesex, and Essex. In only a few 

 counties in England are the eggs protected by the Act 

 of 1894. 



The Pied Wagtail is perhaps the most common of the 

 Wagtails, and may generally be seen in meadows, pastures 

 and fields where cattle and sheep are grazing, in order to get 

 the insects attracted by these animals. Gilbert White says : 

 4( Wagtails run round cattle, availing themselves of the flies 

 that settle on their legs, and probably finding worms and larvae 

 roused by the trampling of their feet. 5 ' "Interest," he adds, 

 " makes strange friendships." This bird is also seen near 

 ponds, streams and rivers, and in marshes and flooded 

 meadows, taking the insects found there. If Pied Wagtails 

 are watched, it will be seen that they are never still, but are 



