The Pied Wagtail (. Motacilla Yarrellii) remains in England throughout the 
year, but generally retires to the southern counties during the winter, as it would 
otherwise be unable to obtain its food. Sometimes, however, where the springs 
are so copious that the water never entirely freezes, the Wagtail may be seen 
haunting its accustomed spot, and drawing a subsistence from the unfrozen 
waters. The more northern coasts are a favourite resort of the Wagtails, which 
run briskly along the edge of the advancing or receding tide, picking up any stray 
provender that may come within their reach. ^ 
The song of the Pied Wagtail is soft, low, and sweet, and is generally uttered 
in the early morning from the elevation of some lofty spot, such as the summit of 
a pointed rock, the roof of an outhouse, or the top of a paling. The bird is 
bold and familiar, coming quite close to human beings without displaying any 
fear, and even following the ploughman for the purpose of picking up the grubs 
and insects that are turned out of the soil by the share. 
The nest of the Wagtail is generally placed at no great distance from the water, 
and is always built in some retired situation. Holes in walls, the hollows of aged 
trees, or niches in old gravel-pits are favourite localities with this bird. Heaps of 
large stones are also in great favour with the Wagtail, and I have generally found 
that whenever a pile of rough stones has remained for some time in the vicinity of 
water, a. Wagtail’s nest is almost invariably somewhere within it. I have also 
found the nest in heaps of dry brushwood piled up for the purpose of being cut 
into faggots. In every case the nest is placed at a considerable depth, and no 
small amount of care and ingenuity is needed to extract the eggs without 
damaging them. The eggs are generally four or five in number, and their colour 
is grey-white speckled with a great number of very small brown spots. 
The Yellow Wagtail, or Ray’s Wagtail, ( Motacilla sulphured) as it is 
sometimes termed, is very common in this country, and is partial to pasture land, 
where it revels among the insects that are roused by the tread of cattle. 
It is not so fond of water as the pied species, and may often be met with upon 
the driest lands, far from any stream, busily employed in catching the beetles, 
flies, and other sun-loving insects. Even upon roads it may frequently be 
observed, tripping about with great celerity, and ever and anon picking up an 
insect, and celebrating its success by a wag of the tail. The name of Yellow 
Wagtail has been given to it on account of the light yellow hue which tinges the 
head and the entire under surface of the body. As, however, the preceding 
species also possesses a considerable amount of yellow in its colouring, the name 
of Ray’s Wagtail has been given to this bird in honour of the illustrious naturalist. 
It is generally seen in little flocks or troops. The colour of this bird is olive 
above, and light yellow beneath. 
There are seven other English species, all much alike in their habits. 
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