M EADOW-PIPIT.
be found; end not unfrequcntly, n- previously remarked, a considerable body of Piplte may be Mooted
harbouring in Some open sj«it whore fnoil is obtainable during severe weather. From observations made in
various parts of tl.e rountry, I conclude that numlicrs of ibe Pipits landing on our coasts in March and April
are on their way to more northern breeding-grounds.
A few extrocta from my utiles for 1SS2 will show the line of flight followed by these bird* along the coast
of Sussex and the «in.l and weather at the. time the observations were made : —
"Sept. 12. The morning was still and Una, with a light breeze from the north. Meadow-Pipits
continued living in large and small bodies for several hours along the coast between Sltorehani and Brighton.
The whole number pursued a course parallel with the shore front west to east. I watched these Dookl of
Mcadnw-]'ipMs streaming past tor several hours, and detected but few strangers In their ranks besides an
occasional Pied Wagtail. Swallows and Martins were also making their way east.
"Sept. 1.1. 'Weather excessively cold; fresh north-west breeze. 1 did not notice a single Pipit on the
move, though several small parties were harbouring in the stubbles and iu some of the field* of coarse grass
near the coast.
" Sept. 11. Wind changeable from south and west. A few I'ipits continued to pass east. During the day
a seven' Ih II nihil ill em broke over the district, necom|ianied by hail and heavy rain.
"Sept. 17. Light breeze from north-west; weather line. Immense numbers of Pipits seen along the
coast from Lancing to Newhaven, tbu downs on the summit of the cliffs in some parts perfectly swarming
with this species. The birds were mostly stationary; but a slight movement from east to watt took
P i „ „ . ."
During the next week there was no general flight, though the uuialnrs met with on certain days varied
" Sept. 20. Strong wind from the soiiih-ivest. Small flight* of Pipits making their Way towards the west.
" Oct. 2. Strong ivind west-south-west. Very few Pipits s e n ; th • recognized wen.' moi iug both cast and
west. There wen', however, numbers of Larks and thousands of Sn allows living cast before the strong wind.
" Oct. ¡1. Wind west and north-west; weather line. Numbers of Pipits flying west.
" Oct. 0. Wind south ; weather line. Small parties of I'ipits flying west.
" Oct. 10. Wind south-east; weather tine. A few Pipits flying east.
" Oct. 13. Wind north-east; weather fine. Some Pipits making their way due east, and others following
an exactly opposite course ; many small flocks stationary in the stubbles,
" Oct. 20. Wind south ; weather line. Numbers of Pipits moving cast.
" Oct. 2S. Wind east; heavy raiu. Large flocks of Pipits barb Hiring ia the stubbles au.l rough meadows
near the coast; none seen on flight.
•• Nov. (1. Wind south; fine still morning. A flock of from forty to fifty Pipits wen- pecking nlwut on
the shingle-hanks between Sborehain and Lancing. At times tiny would fly down to the large heaps of
sea-weed recently cast up by the gales, and then betake themselves to the scanty vegetation on the higher
portion of the beach or some brackish pools on the opposite side of the sea-wall. Small parties of Chaffinches
and GiTeuflnehes were in company with the Pipits; the finches, however, did not follow them down to the
sea-wi-ed, hut remained searching for food among the various seed-producing plants on the higher ridges of
the beach. These Titlarks ap|n'are,l remarkably sociable, as when disturbed from the shore they joined a
large flock of some hundreds of Twites, and after a short flight settled with them on the saltings.
" NOT. 10. Wind west. But oue or two Pipits seen along the eoasl from Sborehain to Lancing.
"Nov. 11. Wind west; weather flue. I remarked a good many single Pipits on the highest portions of
the Downs, near the Dj fce; there were nlso a few scattered aloug the sides of the hill roads."
During the winter months, Meadow-Pipits not unfrcipicntly resort to localities that are damp or flooded.
MEADOW-PIPIT.
When all bill running water is frozen, they betake Iheinsolves to the edges of the saltings or any Open springs.
These residents seldom appear much affected by the cold, and may he seen in any ordinary weather running
actively over the ground In search of food. The extraordinary violence of the wind during the terrible snowstorm
of January 18, 1851, however, proved most disastrous to the feathered tribe, and utterly incapacitated
almost the whole of the small birds in its course. Thousands must have perished through cold and want of
food after the buffetiugs they received during the force of the gale. On the Zftth of January (eight days
after the storm) I happened to be in Slioreliain harbour shortly before high tide. This was the first time
the water had entirely covered the mudflats since the hurricane; and I r
of small birds (Larks, Pipits, Linnels, and many others) washed out fi
These unfortunate birds must have soughl shelter from the cutting blast
perished from the long-continued inclemency of the weather.
When the large Eights of Blackbirds, Thrushes, Fieldfares, Lark
•irked hundreds of dead bodie
i the eeds i the banks.
coast fro
sidcrable bodie ' Pipits
i the approach of s
make their appear.
•squalls dm
• plana, bo
•est at this
ml the 10th i
mull flocks,
of March these bird
he month till well ou
m shortly after dayb
observed in numbers about the hanks of stre
of weather they soon proceed inland, and seat
1878, I find in my note-books that hundreds
on the marshes and round the broads In the e
with large flocks of Starlings, which coulin
entirely of male Chaffinches ilso passed ore
takiug their departure. Light easterly winds
shores and our c
,f Meadow-Pipits
st. of Norfolk. Tli
cd flying cast for
Under the date of Mai
jd and taken up their ip
ked the Grey Crows were then
ippear to b,
on their :
11 these birds (both thus
the spring) t
. lean
of tbes i the Highlands before
old liar
aspect ditfen
coast. It is seldom that any addition to the
April; this fact was noted for a couple of seasons in the u
The persecution that this unfortunate Pipit undergo
ought to tend to keep down its numbers. Merlins, t
special fancy for feeding their young broods with this ]
their neighbourhood, I am aware my own experience in
known writer on Highland sports, who remarks that thi
such as stoats and weasels, hut i- seldom molested by lla\
For breeding-purposes the -Meadow-Pipit resorts to
have found their nests in the long rank grass growio
distance of the sea-shore. The pairs that nest in this 1
residents that ha
the winter in the district. In many instances I MOOgl
aed the thn
s that have their
round a certain piece of water near Shorebani, oa eve
the spot during
winter, and early spring. These stationary birds are remarkably early breeders; their nests are usually built,
and their eggs not unfrequently laid, before the greater number of the migrants have arrived. Many pairs of
I'ipits may ho seen on the furze aud heath-covered ranges of the South Downs during the summer months.
Their nests are usually placed under the shelter of the heather or other coarse vegetation on a grassy hauk, or
even in some slight inequality in the ground or on the bare hill-side. Among the broads and rivers of the