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(Motacilla alba, Linn.—La Lavandičre, Buff.)
LENGTH about seven inches. The bill is black; eyes hazel; hinder part of the head and neck black; fore-head, cheeks, and sides of the neck white; the fore part of the neck and part of the breast are black, bordered by a line of white, in the form of a gorget; the back and rump are dark ash; wing coverts and secondary quills dusky, edged with light grey; prime quills black, with pale edges; lower part of the breast and belly white; the middle feathers of the tail are black, the outermost white, except at the base and tips of the inner webs, which are black: legs black. There are slight variations in these birds; some are white on the chin and threat, leaving only a crescent of black on the breast. The head of the female is brown.
This is a very common bird with us, and may be seen every where, running on the ground, and leaping after flies and other insects, on which it feeds. Its usual haunts are the shallow margins of springs and running waters, into which it will sometimes wade a little in pursuit of its food. They make their nest on the ground, of dry grass, moss, and small roots, lined with hair and feathers, and have been known sometimes to breed in the deserted nest of the Swallow, in chimnies; the female lays five white eggs, spotted with brown. They are very attentive to their young, and continue to feed and train them for three or four weeks after they are able to fly: they defend them with great courage when in danger, or endeavour to draw aside the enemy by various little arts. They are very attentive to the cleanliness of the nest, and have been known to remove light substances, such as paper or straw, which have been laid as a mark to find it by.
The Wagtail is said by some authors to migrate into other climates about the end of October; with us it is known to change its quarters as the winter approaches, from north to south. Its note is small and insignificant but frequently repeated, especially while on the wing.
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