CLASS II. AYES: OHDER 2. PASSERES. 135 
THE PIED WAGTAIL — FEMALE. 
THE SYLYIDJE OE WAEBLEES. 
This is a very extensive family, including the Wagtails, Titlarks, Bush-Creepers, Titmice, 
Robins, Nightingales, and True Warblers — noted for their sprightliness. and many of them for 
their fine musical powers. 
THE MOTACILLINiE OR WAGTAILS. 
This group includes a large number of species of small birds, belonging to Europe, Asia, and 
Africa, generally of sober colors, but beautiful in form. Some are fine songsters; all are distin- 
guished for vivacity and sprightliness of air and manner. The bill is moderately long, straight, and 
slender ; the wings long and pointed ; the tail nearly twice the length of the body, and remark- 
able for a constant jerking motion, which has given these birds their common name. They live 
in meadows and pastures, run swiftly, and Lave an exceedingly graceful, buoyant, and undulating 
THE GRAY WAGTAIL. 
flight. On alighting upon the ground, they spread the tail, and while running along, constantly 
vibrate tke body and tail in a very singular manner. Their food consists of insects and worms ; 
their nests are made upon the ground, amid herbage and stones, and they lay from four to six spotted 
eggs. Their note is short and shrill, and is often repeated as they run about in search of their prey. 
They frequent streams and pools, and may often be seen wading in shallow brooks. This habit of 
dabbling in the water has given them the name of Lavandieres, or Washer-women, in France. 
