THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. 
170 
probable that their migrations are not very remote. The 
mode of life assigned to these creatures requires great 
activity of body ; for living solely upon insects and 
winged animals, they are constantly capturing or pur- 
suing ; and their length of tail, which is perpetually in 
motion, seems to aid and balance the operations of the 
body. In the evening, when the winged creatures are 
at rest, or, from the state of the atmosphere, in repose, 
the wagtail resorts to the pastures, feeding under the 
very bodies and noses of the cattle, who now become 
the starters of his game, which, moving from the ani- 
mal, are captured by the bird. Being drowsy, and 
settling almost as soon as disturbed, their prey would 
escape, was the wagtail less nimble in his actions— for 
he does not appear to perceive the insect, except when 
it moves. How differently formed is this bird and the 
gray flycatcher ! Though both are solely insectivorous, 
yet they secure their prey by very distinct means, the 
latter seldom capturing on the ground or using his legs 
in pursuit ; the other uses actively his slender legs and 
extended wings to aid him. The swallow race, again, 
feed unlike them both, and haunting the pool, the 
stream, the mead, or the higher regions of the air, 
which his fraternity possess as a peculiar domain, satisfy 
their wants in peace, without collision or contention 
for the object. 
Admirably adapted to the requirements of each crea- 
ture as their dispositions and institutions are known to 
be, yet their peculiar modes of dieting, or inclination 
for particular food, and formation of the organs that 
digest it, should not be utterly* unheeded, because by 
these appointments of Omniscience, abundance is pro- 
duced for every race of created things in all places, 
without variance or unfitting exertions to procure it. 
Could we unite into one district a human being from 
every square mile upon the surface of the globe, un- 
shackled by bigotry or the tenets of any faith, they 
probably, without reluctance, having the means, might 
feed upon and be nourished by one natural diet— we 
will say the flesh of the ox, with potatoes or rice — 
but this is by no means the case with the inferior ani- 
