Banting* were cullecM among the stems or tho rood*, many when they had taken up their positions being
entirely lest to sight in the thiek cover immediately ahuve the surface of the viator. The Wagtails for the
most |>iirt gathered On Hie Uonting weeds and some balks of decayed timber. I noticed a few old birds in
perfect plumage, though the majority were evidently young or the previous year, still exhibiting the yellow
tinge round the head aud n general dull plumage.
The hrnvy sea that caused so much damage along the Cornish coast on October 7, 1851, broke over aud
completely Hooded some grnss-niendous and fields in the outskirts of Penzance. As the waters subsided,
immense numbers of Pied Wagtails and a score or so or Grey were lo be seen daily feeding round the pools.
The former species were still numerous in the district as late as the second week in November. One of their
fa v ornate roost i ug-quai Irii were tin- cracks a nil crannies an long tin1 large slab- of rock in the c litis overhanging
the sea between Porthlevcn and Binzey. Ily about half-past four in the afternoon they were gathered in
hundreds along the ledges. On being disturbed from their quarters they scattered over the patches of grass
in the vicinity, but speedily collected again and returned to the position they had selected. During fine still
weather they paid hut littte regard lo the aspect of their roost big-place, though a gale of wind aud a
threatening sky caused tl i at once to seek the sheltered side of the gullies that ran down the elill's. The
greater part of these birds showed immature plumage.
The nest of this species is often found in close proximity to buildings—a hole iu a thalehed roof, an old
farm-lodge, or a dilapidated wall being frequently made use of. When breeding in the open country they
resort to disused quarries, old lime-kilns or even any inequalities in hilly ground or the face of rough banks.
I have more than once noticed Ihesc Wagtails bristling at some height in largo trees, the nest being usually
placed in some convenient hollow in the main trunk where two or three large limbs branched out. A favourite
situation of this description, which I often inspected, vi as thickly shaded by a luxuriant growth of tho Common
Polypody (I'olt/i>otliri)ii riflijttrr).
The food consists of Hies and insects, collected while cm wing aud also on the ground. These birds are
excessively fond of glowworms. A pair were observed to clear off great numbers of these insects which had
been collected and placed among the rough grass and cn-cping plants on a small grotto iu a garden in Sussex.
Scarcely an insect would hi' seeu on the night follow ing if ir capture, till the rock work was covered by uettiug,
when the thieves Mere kept at a distance. While boating on one of the Norfolk rivers my attention was
attracted by a female Pied Wagtail llutteriiig on the ground, tumbling over and over and apparently unable
to rise. At length I discovered she was making an attack on an cnormuus dragoully, which eventually
succumbed, though the bird evidently had a rough tussle before her object was accomplished.
While conversing on the subject with my punt man, I learned ihnt the local name of the dragoully was
the " Tom Breczer." A few years later, when again in the same district, I was refreshing my memory as to
the local names for various birds, insects, and reptile., such as "pishemeers" for ants, "hopping-toads" for
frogs, Ac, &C. The man assented to all the titles i bestowed on the subjects of our discussion, stating that
my naming was perfectly correct. He concluded by gravely remarking, " and the things you call wopses*
we call wasps—W-A-S-l'-S (spelling it slowly over); 1 looked in a book and found it."
W H I T E W A G T A I L.
M0TAV1LLA ALBA.
I HAVE never met with the White Wai'tnil during the winter; aud, according lo my own observations, those
that visit the British Islands in the spring are considerably later in making their appcaraiw on our shores
than the Pied Wagtails that pass the winter on the continent. I cannot record a single instance where
this species has been observed before the second Week in April. During line weather at that period, these
birds may commonly be noticed in Sussex, within a short distance of the sea-coast. As a rule, they appear
to lie making their way from west to east, and seldom remain jn the locality for auy length or time. I have
watched them seeking for food along the banks round brackish pools, as well as on the muds of Shorehatu
hnrlwur. A few wen' also occasionally remurkid frequenting the Ball marshes between Laueiug and
Worthing. Further east I found a single specimen feeding along the muddy shores of a dyke iu the
level near St. Leonards, in the first week iu May. When disturbed, the bird took a short Bight; hut after
alighting two or three times on the 11 oating wi-od aud searching closely over the surface, it rose in the air
and made a straight course along the shore towards the east. The water in the dyke was partlv salt; and
the tangled weed that grew in profusion contained a number of minute shells. I am ignorant whither
scientific authorities allow that this Wagtail will feed on such apparently unpalatable morsels. Though
the bird was not shot in order to ascertain the fact, I was considerably mistaken if it did uot swallow
scvcral of these small shells.
During the latter cud of April, when passing through the district, I repeatedly noticed several pairs of
While Wagtails feeding along the shores of the Ness. The birds were not met with further inland than
the town of Inverness, being most frequently seeu about the small drains naming down to the water, or
gathered round any refuse thrown out on the shores. A few Pied Wagtails also resort to the same spots, and
a pair or two often intermingle as they chase insects round the puddles or run rapidly along the stony
licil of the river. The difference between Ihe two species was most striking when closely examined sale
by side, the extra size and length of Mvl"r:ll.t nlfm being particularly conspicuous.
Though 1 never detected the nest or even came to the conclusion that the birds were then settled in
the district, numbers of these Wagtails were met with in the island of Lewes, early in May W 7 . I did nut
recognize a single specimen, except in the immediate vicinity of dwelling-houses or round the various
outbuildings and enclosure*. A severe gale of wind, with hail ami rain, from the south-east swept over
Ihe island on the (jib of May; shortly after midday the storm moderated, end by 'i T.tL the weather was
bright and mild. During the afternoon 1 remarked at least five pairs of White Wagtails about the gardens
and londing.slages round a shooting-lodge on the shores of Loch Shell. On the following day, which was tine,
not a single bird was noticed; aud it was uot till the Uth that 1 again observed them, a pair or two remaining
Tor several hours in the gardens. Ou many occasions when watching this species ou these islands, 1
was particularly struck by their confiding nature—eagerly searching for food aud actively chasing bisects