Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/166

138 breeze from the south, I have frequently seen them, on different parts of the coast, flying directly from the south, and from such a distance at sea as at first to be scarcely perceptible, gradually however becoming more distinct, until they alighted near me on the open shore, sometimes singly, and at other times in small parties. The fields in the neighbourhood of the coast, where but a short time before scarcely an individual was to be found, are soon tenanted by numbers of this species, and for several days they continue dropping on the shores in detached parties. The old male birds arrive first, presenting the beautiful jet black and pure white plumage of the breeding season; while the females, and the males of the preceding year, which resemble the females, the plumage on the back being of an iron grey, do not make their appearance until a few days afterwards. It may be observed that the white on the forehead and cheeks of these newly arrived birds is much more pure at this time than in those which winter in England, and altogether they have a fresher, and, as it were, a cleaner appearance than they themselves present a short time after their arrival in this country.

Some of the old males appear to have paired before their departure from the continent; for after alighting on the shore they exhibit many signs of restlessness and anxiety, performing short flights, and incessantly calling for their mates.

It is worthy of remark, that those pied wagtails which remain with us during the winter, do not assume the summer garb at so early a period as their travelled brethren; indeed on the arrival of the latter, who invariably make their appearance in the full breeding plumage, the former have but partially commenced the change,—a few black patches beginning to appear on the throat, and the light grey of the back being varied with occasional feathers of a darker hue. In about a fortnight afterwards this assumption of the breeding plumage is complete, and at the expiration of that time the pied wagtails which have arrived from the continent, and those which have remained in England during the winter, present the same appearance.

After remaining in the neighbourhood of the coast for a few days, these birds proceed inland in a northern direction; and any practical observer of birds in the interior of the country may perceive how much more numerous they suddenly become at this period. There is scarcely a pool, roadside ditch, or village horse-pond, where they may not be seen in pairs; and in districts where but a week before the species was but thinly distributed.

These birds pair early and moult soon, having completed the change at the end of July or early in August. The black feathers gradually