geners, is to be met with in tolerable abundance, during 
most of the winter months, in pastures, and near small 
running streams ; when the weather proves severe, it will 
sometimes seek shelter in out-buildings, and will visit farm- 
yards and gardens, in search of scattered grain and seeds. 
The note of the Winter Wagtail is much superior 
to that of either of the others; it will frequently perch on 
fences, during fine weather, in the months of January and 
February, and continue to sing for a considerable time : 
its call is like the word " Physk;' repeated two or three 
times. It feeds on insects, worms, grain, and seeds; it 
catches the insects in the manner already described under 
the head Muscicapa Atricapilla, and has many actions in 
common with that bird. When running, it keeps its tail in 
constant motion, either flirting it up and down or shaking 
it from side to side. 
It is probable that this species may breed in the northern 
parts of this kingdom ; but we have not been so fortunate 
as to procure either the nest or eggs ; it is described as build- 
ing on the ground like the other species, and the eggs are 
said to be of a dirty white colour, marked with yellow spots. 
This is migratory species, generally appearing with us in 
the month of September, and usually quitting in April ; 
the black, so conspicuous on its throat, does not appear till 
a few weeks prior to its quitting this country, so that, 
before these feathers make their appearance, the species 
may easily be confounded with the Yellow or Summer W ag- 
tail ; but the hind claw in this last species will at all times 
aftbrd a sure criterion, as in the Grey species it is short 
and crooked, whilst in the Yellow it is long and nearly 
straight. Its flight will also readily distinguish them ; in the 
present species the undulations are longer, and it has not that 
jerking in its flight so observable in other species. 
s 
