Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/100

Rh motion up and down. Their colours are chiefly black, white, grey, and yellow, arranged in masses with strong contrasts.

The true Wagtails are well known as the regular frequenters of the marshy meadow, the grassy banks of the placid river, or the pebbly margin of the brawling brook; the roaring mill-stream of the village is attended by its little group of "Dishwashes," as the country swains term them, and others run hither and thither among the rocks that border the lonely mountain torrent. They wade into the shallows to pick up water-insects and their larvae, as well as small pond-snails and other mollusca, run at flies that are resting on the herbage, and pursue with a short low flight such as they arouse to take wing. "When the cows are feeding in the moist low pastures," says White of Selborne (and every one must have seen the observation confirmed), "broods of Wagtails, white and grey, run round them, close up to their noses, and under their very bellies, availing themselves of the flies that settle on their legs, and probably finding worms and larvae that are roused by the trampling of their feet. Nature is such an economist, that the most incongruous animals can avail themselves of each other! Interest makes strange friendships."

Four or five species are found with us, of which the Pied Wagtail (Motacilla Yarrellii, ) is the most abundant. Its colours are chiefly black and white; the former spreading over the upper parts, and forming a large patch on the throat and breast: the latter being the hue of the forehead, sides of the head and neck, the lower parts, and the external feathers of the