PIED WAGTAIL. 
2 
Buntings were collected among the stems of the reeds, many when they had taken up their positions being 
entirely lost to sight in the thick cover immediately above the surface of the water. The Wagtails for the 
most part gathered on the floating weeds and some balks of decayed timber. I noticed a few old birds in 
perfect plumage, though the majority were evidently young of the previous year, still exhibiting the yellow 
tinge round the head and a general dull plumage. 
'ihe heavy sea that caused so much damage along the Cornish coast on October 7, 1881, broke over and 
completely flooded some grass-meadows and fields in the outskirts of Penzance. As the waters subsided, 
immense numbers ol Pied Wagtails and a score or so of Grey were to be seen daily feeding round the pools. 
Ihe former species were still numerous in the district as late as the second week in November. One of their 
favourite roosting-quarters were the cracks and crannies among the large slabs of rock in the cliffs overhanging 
the sea between Porthleven and Itinzey. By about half-past four in the afternoon they were gathered in 
hundreds along the ledges. On being disturbed from their quarters they scattered over the patches of grass 
in the vicinity, but speedily collected again and returned to the position they had selected. During fine still 
weather they paid but littte regard to the aspect of their roosting-place, though a gale of wind and a 
threatening sky caused them at once to seek the sheltered side of the gullies that ran down the cliffs. The 
greater part of these birds showed immature plumage. 
The nest of this species is often found in close proximity to buildings— a hole in a thatched roof, an old 
farm-lodge, or a dilapidated wall being frequently made use of. When breeding in the open country they 
resort to disused quarries, old lime-kilns, or even any inequalities in hilly ground or the face of rough banks. 
I have more than once noticed these Wagtails breeding at some height in large trees, the nest being usually 
placed in some convenient hollow in the main trunk where two or three large limbs branched out. A favourite 
situation ol this description, which I often inspected, was thickly shaded by a luxuriant growth of the Common 
Polypody (Polypodium vulgare). 
The food consists of Hies and insects, collected while on wing and also on the ground. These birds are 
excessively fond of glowworms. A pair were observed to clear off great numbers of these insects which had 
been collected and placed among the rough grass and creeping plants on a small grotto in a garden in Sussex. 
Scarcely an insect would be seen on the night following their capture, till the rockwork was covered by netting, 
when the thieves were kept at a distance. While boating on one of the Norfolk rivers my attention was 
attracted by a female Pied Wagtail fluttering on the ground, tumbling over and over and apparently unable 
to rise. At length I discovered she was making an attack on an enormous dragonfly, which eventually 
succumbed, though the bird evidently had a rough tussle before her object was accomplished. 
While conversing on the subject with my puntman, I learned that the local name of the dragonfly was 
the “ Tom Breczcr.” A few years later, when again in the same district, I was refreshing my memory as to 
the local names for various birds, insects, and reptiles, such as “ pishemeers ” for ants, “hopping-toads” for 
frogs, &c., &c. The man assented to all the titles I bestowed on the subjects of our discussion, stating that 
my naming was perfectly correct. He concluded by gravely remarking, “ and the things you call wopses* 
we call wasps — W-A-S-P-S (spelling it slowly over) ; I looked in a book and found it.” 
* JJy this name these abominable pests are invariably spoken of in some country districts in the south. 
