Hypertext Webster Gateway: "wagtail"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Wagtail \Wag"tail`\, n. (Zo["o]l.)
Any one of many species of Old World singing birds belonging
to {Motacilla} and several allied genera of the family
{Motacillid[ae]}. They have the habit of constantly jerking
their long tails up and down, whence the name.

{Field wagtail}, any one of several species of wagtails of
the genus {Budytes} having the tail shorter, the legs
longer, and the hind claw longer and straighter, than do
the water wagtails. Most of the species are yellow
beneath. Called also {yellow wagtail}.

{Garden wagtail}, the Indian black-breasted wagtail
({Nemoricola Indica}).

{Pied wagtail}, the common European water wagtail ({Motacilla
lugubris}). It is variegated with black and white. The
name is applied also to other allied species having
similar colors. Called also {pied dishwasher}.

{Wagtail flycatcher}, a true flycatcher ({Sauloprocta
motacilloides}) common in Southern Australia, where it is
very tame, and frequents stock yards and gardens and often
builds its nest about houses; -- called also {black
fantail}.

{Water wagtail}.
(a) Any one of several species of wagtails of the restricted
genus {Motacilla}. They live chiefly on the shores of
ponds and streams.
(b) The American water thrush. See {Water thrush}.

{Wood wagtail}, an Asiatic wagtail; ({Calobates sulphurea})
having a slender bill and short legs.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

wagtail
n : Old World bird having a very long tail that jerks up and
down as it walks


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