192 
GRAY WAGTAIL. 
take a station near a rapid or water fall, and 
select a breeding place on the ledge of the sur- 
rounding rocks, and thus they are met with far 
up sad retired among the hills ; but as if some 
portion of the race had lived to delight in civili- 
sation, the fall which drives a mill is a habitat 
as frequent, and they nestle among the works 
of man with as much confidence, and an appear- 
ance of even more security, than their more 
secluded neighbours. The nest is placed on a 
ledge of rock or bank hung over with wild plants, 
and generally sheltered above from the rain. It 
.s built rather rudely, exteriorly of roots and the 
stems of plants, and is lined inside with hair and 
fine grasses. Incubation commences very early, 
and two broods are commonly reared within the 
summer. The food consists in great part of 
insects, but the smaller aquatic molusca form a 
portion of it. The small cycladae and ancylus 
have been found in the stomach. 
This species is not an abundant bird, but it is 
pretty generally distributed in the southern 
counties of England. However, it is a win- 
ter visiter, and only remains during the year 
north of Yorkshire ; the recorded instances to 
the contrary, form only the exceptions. It is 
curious, however, that, notwithstanding this 
British distribution, the ornithologists of the 
Continent consider it as remaining, during the 
whole year, in the countries of southern Europe. 
In Scotland it is frequent by all the alpine 
streams, and extends to the northern counties. 
