. History of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . ous. They areeafily diftinguiflied by their brifk and lively mo-tions, as well as by the great length of their tails,which they jerk up and down incelTantly—fromwhence they derive their name.* They do nothop, but run along the ground very nimbly, afterflies and other infefts, on which they feed: Theyiikewife feed on fmall worms, in fearch of whichthey are frequently feen to flutter round the huf-bandman whilft at his plough, and follow the flocksin fearch of the flies which generally furroundthem. They frequent the fides of pools, and
. History of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . ous. They areeafily diftinguiflied by their brifk and lively mo-tions, as well as by the great length of their tails,which they jerk up and down incelTantly—fromwhence they derive their name.* They do nothop, but run along the ground very nimbly, afterflies and other infefts, on which they feed: Theyiikewife feed on fmall worms, in fearch of whichthey are frequently feen to flutter round the huf-bandman whilft at his plough, and follow the flocksin fearch of the flies which generally furroundthem. They frequent the fides of pools, and pickup the infefts which fwarm on the furface. Theyfeldom perch; their flight is weak and undulating,smd during which they make a twittering noife, * In almoft all languages the name of this bird Is defcrlptiveof its peculiar habits. In Latin, Motacllla ; in French, Mot-teux, La Lavandiere, or Wafher; In England, they are feme-times called Wafhers, from their peculiar motion j in Gerraan^^^rook-Hilts; In Italian, Shake-tail, 5cc. &c. BRITISH THE PIED WAGTAIL. BLACK AND WHITE WATER-WAGTAIL.(Motaci//a Alboy Lin.—La Lavandiere, BufF.) The length of this bird is about feven inches %The bill is black ; eyes hazel; hind part of the headand neck black; the forehead, cheeks, and fides ofthe neck are white ; the fore part of the neck andpart of the bread are black, bordered by a line ofwhite, in the form of a gorget; the back and rumpare of a deep afh colour; wing coverts and fecon-dary quills dufky, edged with light grey; primequills black, with pale edges; lower part of thebreaft and belly white ; the middle feathers of thetail are black, the outermoft white, except at thebafe and tips of the inner webs, which are black;legs black. There are flight variations in thefebirds; fome are white on the chin and throat, leav-ing only a crefcent of black on the breaft. Thehead of the female is brown. BRITISH BIRDS. 1 g^ This is a very common bird with us, and maybe feen every wher
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