353 
Wagtails, p. 42. — There are four different kinds of wagtails. 
Ist. The white wagtail arrives in this country in the beginning 
of IVIarch, and breeds mostly in old barns, and departs in small 
flights in the middle of Se]3tember 2nd. The pied wagtail. This 
bird never leaves this country ; it is very common, and breeds 
near brooks. 3rd. The grey or dan wagtail. This breeds in 
Scotland, on the moors. They are caught round London from 
the end of October to the spring. These birds are very rare; they 
frequent brooks and ditches all the winter, and do not breed 
here. 4th. The yellow, or Eay's wagtail, breeds on poor land ; 
arrives in April and leaves in the middle of September. The 
four species are found all over England ; they are easily kept 
in confinement ; they have a short song, or rather call ; they 
sing during the breeding-time. 
The wagtails have different calls. The call of the black-and- 
white wagtail is " Physic, physic, physic," quickly repeated : 
with a whistle Davy can make them come close up. Listen to 
the first wagtail you hear, and you will find he invokes the aid 
of the medical profession. 
Pied wagtails are good fighters. ''Cornubia" remarks, "During 
the severe weather the daughters of a friend of mine, with praise- 
worthy humanity, ministered to the wants of the various birds 
morning and evening. Piobins, house and hedge-sparrows, black- 
birds, tits, finches, wrens, and others, came punctually to their bi- 
daily banquet ; but there was one amongst them quite a monster 
of selfishness and tyranny, who made all others fiy at his 
approach, and he was none other than a pied wagtail {Motacilla 
Yarrelli). One would have expected to see the plucky 
cock-sparrow, or pugnacious robin at least, resent the tyranny 
of M. Yarrelli.'' 
Wheatear, p. 43. — The Wheatear arrives very early in the 
spring, and abounds particularly on the south downs. After 
recovering themselves, they make inland to their breeding 
places. Wiltshire is a favourite locality. They are, without 
a doubt, a migratory bird, and one of the earliest visitors to this 
country : they are frequently caught the first week in March. 
The trap used to catch them is the common nightingale trap. 
They are very easily caught ; the best bait is a meal-worm ; 
they are splendid eating. They are sold in large numbers in 
Brighton ; they are best and fattest in the beginning of April. 
Stoats AND Weasels, p. 47. — Stoats and Weasels, two distinct 
species, are frequently confounded together, and the small female 
stoat and large male weasel occasion much controversy. How- 
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