MEADOW PIPIT, OR TIT. ANTHUS PRATENSIS, Bechst. PLATE XLIX. FIG. 4. Anthus pratensis, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. v. 3. p. 732. t. 36. f. 2. Alauda pratensis, Lath. Ind. Ornith. v. 2. p. 49. 3. sp. 5.—Linn. Syst. I. p. 287. 2.-Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 792.-Raii Syn. p. 69. A. 3.—Will. p. 150. -Briss. 3. p. 343. 3. Spipola altera Aldrov., Raii Syn. p. 80. 4.-Will. p. 153. 171. L'Alouette de Pres, Buff. v. 5. p. 31. t. 3. Pepit Farlouse, Temm. Man. d'Ornith. v. 1. p. 269. Wiesenpieper, Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. v. 1. p. 255.—Frisch, t. 16. f. 2. A. Pipit Lark, Mont. Ornith. Dict.-Shaw's Zool. v. 10. p. 542. PROVINCIAL-Grey Cheaper, Titling. THIS bird is of common occurrence, being very generally distributed throughout these kingdoms, inhabiting the mountainous and heathy parts of the country, as well as the meadows and marshes of the lower districts. It is abundant on the elevated tracts of Northumberland and the barren heaths of the Highlands of Scotland, and, as MONTAGU observes, is one of the few birds met with in such exposed situations. These birds remain with us through the whole year, but many of them change their quarters during the winter, according to the severity of the season. In September and October, after their autumnal or general moult, they assemble in small flocks, resorting to the lower pastures, and not unfrequently to turnip-fields. At this period, the renewed plumage differs considerably from that laid aside, the oil-green of the upper parts being of a much brighter tint, and the whole of the under parts more deeply tinged with yellow. In this state, the present species is to be recognised as the Pipit Lark, considered by some authors as a distinct species. MONTAGU, in the first volume of his Ornithological Dictionary, describes it as such under the above title; but afterwards, in his Appendix to the Supplement, upon more mature investigation, corrects himself, and asserts his conviction of their identity. I have omitted no opportunity of becoming satisfied on this head, having examined specimens at all seasons of the year, and am thoroughly persuaded that the supposed species described as the Pipit Lark, is in reality no more than the Common Pipit (Tit-Lark of authors) in its renewed or winter plumage. Its usual flight is by short and interrupted jerks; but in the breeding season it differs, the bird then rising by a tremulous and rapid motion of the wings to a considerable height in the air, and commencing its song when at the greatest elevation, descending afterwards with motionless wing and expanded tail, in a sloping (sometimes almost perpendicular) direction to the earth, or to the top of some bush.—It makes its nest on the ground, under Nest, &c. the shelter of a tuft of herbage, forming it of dry grass, interwoven with the seed-stalks of plants, and lined with finer grasses, or with hair. The eggs are five or six in number, varying in colour, but the prevailing tint a pale brown, thickly covered with brownish purple-red spots and specks. Like the Wagtails, it runs with celerity, and feeds upon flies, Food. worms, and other insects. Its common note-call is a short chirp, resembling the word sneek frequently repeated. In Northumberland, I have observed that the Cuckoo almost invariably deposits her egg in the nest of this bird, scarcely a year elapsing without instances of this fact falling under my observation. This is perhaps the result of locality, being on the border of the open heathy country, where the present species is abundant, and where the Cuckoos, during their cursory residence, chiefly resort, attracted, in all probability, by the plentiful supply of lepidopterous larvæ to be found in such situations. General description. PLATE 49. Fig. 4. Natural size. Upper parts dark oil-green, with the centres of the feathers brownish-black. Under parts yellowish-white, spotted with blackish-brown upon the sides of the neck and breast. Flanks white, with large oblong dark streaks. Tail blackish-brown, the outer feather having its exterior web white, and also terminating with a large white spot. On the second feather of the tail is a small white spot near the tip.-During the breeding season, the throat of the male bird assumes a pale reddish-brown colour. After the autumnal moult, the plumage is of a bright oil-green, and the under parts of a deeper yellowish-white, or sienna-yellow. The female and young bird are similar to the male in the autumnal plumage. TREE PIPIT. ANTHUS ARBOREUS, Bechst. PLATE XLIX. FIG. 5. Anthus arboreus, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. v. 3. p. 706. t. 36. f. 1. Alauda minor, Lath. Ind. Ornith. v. 2. p. 494. sp. 8.-Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 793. L'Alouette Pipi, Gerard. Tab. Flem. v. 1. p. 246.—Buff. Pl. Enl. 660. f. 1. the male. Baumpieper, Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. v. 1. p. 254. B.—Frisch. t. 16. f. 1. B. Lesser Field Lark, Will. (Ang.) p. 207. The Lesser Field Lark or Tree Lark, Bewick, Supp. p. t. 28. The Grasshopper Lark, Bewick's Br. Birds, v. 1. p. 181. but confounding with it the habits and description of the Grasshopper Warbler, as noted by White in his Hist. Selb. ALTHOUGH rather superior in dimensions, the Tree Pipit is so like the Meadow Pipit in plumage, as to have been very frequently confounded with it. The short and hooked hind claw, however, of the species now under consideration, will always prove a sufficient mark of distinction. The bill also is rather stronger, and more dilated at the base. visitant. It is a migratory species, and a summer visitant with us; Periodical arriving about the first week in May, in the northern counties, and departing on its equatorial migration in September. During its abode here, it inhabits the borders of woods in the arable districts, and is never found upon the moors or extensive downs, where the Meadow Pipit is always most abundant. It is pretty generally, though but thinly, scattered through the cultivated parts of the island. Like most of our summer visitants, the arrival of the male bird precedes that of the other sex by a week or ten days.—As soon as a proper situation is found, he commences his song of invitation, which, though possessing some similarity of note to those of the two preceding species, is very superior to them in compass, variety, and sweetness. This he pours forth from the top of a tree, or on wing, as slowly descending to the spot from whence he had previously risen. During his ascent he never sings, producing only a twittering note, similar to the word Tsee, frequently repeated, till he arrives at his highest elevation; then he commences together his song and his descent, which is performed with motionless and widely extended wings; the tail at the same time being expanded and thrown perpendicularly upwards. MONTAGU very correctly observes, that this bird rarely alights upon the ground, without previously perching on a tree, and that it also commences its flight from a tree, after leaving the ground. It builds its nest under the shelter of a large tuft, or a Nest, &c. small bush; this is composed of moss, fibres of root, and withered grasses, lined with fine dry grass, and horse-hair. The eggs, four or five in number, are of a greyish-white, sprinkled all over with brownish purple-red specks. Like the others of its genus, it runs and walks upon the Food. ground with ease, feeding upon insects and worms. General description. The Lesser Crested Lark of ALDROVANDUS, and of succeeding writers, appears to be but the present species; and BEWICK'S descriptions of the Field Lark, Tree Lark, and Grasshopper Lark, in the first volume of his "British Birds," seem only referable to the same individual. PLATE 49. Fig. 5. Natural size. The whole of the upper parts of the plumage deep oilgreen; the feathers upon the head, and those of the upper part of the back having their centres brownish-black. Wing-coverts margined with yellowish-white, and forming a double transverse bar across the wings. Chin and throat white, passing into pale sienna-yellow upon the sides of the breast. Upper parts of the breast having oblong spots of brown. Sides and flanks spotted with brown. Middle of the belly, and the under tail-coverts greyish-white; sometimes tinged with pale sienna-yellow. Tail having the two middle feathers pointed, of a brown colour, tinged with oil-green; the exterior feather, with the whole of the outer, and the greater part of the inner web white, and with the tip of the second feather also white. Legs and toes yellowish-brown. Hind claw short and curved. The female is similar to the male bird. RICHARD'S PIPIT. ANTHUS RICHARDI, Vieill. PLATE C. FIG. 5. Anthus Richardi, Vieillot, Temm. Man. d'Orn. 1. 263. Pepit Richard, Temm. Man. 2. 263. THE capture of two or three speciemens in the southern parts of Britain, within the last few years, (and subsequent |