284 
OBSBEYATIONS ON BIEDS. 
like the bats, are come fortli to collect a little food] Bats appear at 
all seasons through the autumn and spring months, when the ther- 
mometer is at 50, because then phalsense and moths are stirring. 
These swallows looked like young ones. — White. 
Of their migration the proofs are such as will scarcely admit of a 
doubt. Sir Charles Wager and Captain Wright saw vast flocks of them 
at sea, when on their passage from one country to another. Our author, 
Mr. White, saw what he deemed the actual migration of these birds, 
and which he has described at p. 184 of his History of Selborne ; " and 
of their congregating together on the roofs of churches and other 
buildings, and on trees, previous to their departure, many instances 
occur; particularly I once observed a large stock of house-martins on 
the roof of the church here at Catsfield, which acted exactly in the 
manner here described by Mr. AVhite, sometimes preening their feathers 
and spreading their wings to the sun, and then flying ofi* all together, 
but soon returning to their former situation. The greatest part of 
these birds seemed to be young ones. — Makkwick. 
WAGTAILS. 
While the cows are feeding in the moist low pastures, broods of 
wagtails, white and gray, run round them, close up to their noses, and 
under their very bellies, availing themselves of the flies that settle on 
their legs, and probably finding worms and larvce that are roused by 
' the trampling of their feet. Nature is such an economist, that the most 
incongruous animals can avail themselves of each other ! 
Interest makes strange friendships. — White. 
Birds continually avail themselves of particular and unusual circum- 
stances to procure their food ; thus wagtails keep playing about the 
noses and legs of cattle as they feed, in quest of flies and other insects 
which abound near those animals ; and great numbers of them will 
follow close to the plough to devour the worms, &c., that are turned up 
by that instrument. The red-breast attends the gardener when digging 
his borders; and will, with great familiarity and tameness, pick out 
the worms, almost close to his spade, as I have frequently seen. 
Starlings and magpies very often sit on the backs of sheep and deer to 
pick out their ticks. — Markwick. 
WHYNECK. 
These birds appear on the grass-plots and walks ; they walk a little 
- as well as hop, and thrust their bills into the turf, in quest, I conclude, 
of ants, which are their food. While they hold their bills in the grass, 
they draw out their prey with their tongues, which are so long as to be 
coiled round their heads. — White. 
