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MOTACILLIDiE. 
THE PIED WAGTAIL. 
Common Wagtail. 
Motacilla Yarrellii, Gould. 
,, alba . * 
Is common and resident throughout the island. 
We find it in localities of all kinds where water is to be met with, 
from the iron-bound coast of the ocean and sea-girt isles, to the 
pettiest streamlet and border of the “ green-mantled 99 pool. The 
last haunt to be mentioned, though not the least frequented by the 
bird, is the vicinity of the manure-heap, which, as well as the greater 
places alluded to, presents its peculiar flies attracted by the oozing 
liquid. This bird, though said to leave the northern, to winter 
in the southern, parts of England, is permanently resident in the 
northern counties of Ireland. One disposition towards a move- 
ment may however be witnessed, which is their collecting in the 
autumn in flocks, commonly consisting of about thirty indivi- 
duals. I have seen them thus at the end of September, at Mas- 
sareene Park, on the borders of Lough Neagh, and have observed 
them come to roost upon the reeds ( Arundo yohragmitis ) and the 
adjacent ground, on the banks of the river Lagan, until after the 
middle of November; but I am not aware whether the bodies of 
these birds so congregated ever move southwards. Mr. E. Ball 
has likewise observed them in flocks about Youghal, in the south 
of Ireland, during the month of October. 
Dr. Earran of Dublin, favours me with the following evident in- 
stance of migration “ Being in the county of Waterford on the 
16th of September, 1843, I visited Portlaw, the fine power-loom 
factory belonging to Malcomson and Co., when Mr. Shaw, one of the 
partners, related the following singular circumstance, which 
occurred a few days previous to my arrival : — There is in the 
pond that supplies the water-wheel, a small island, a few yards 
from the bank, on which about half a dozen sallow-trees are grow- 
* Of British authors prior to 1837- 
