•I, MEADOW-PIPIT.
eastern counties these birds seldom resort to particularly marshy situations in which to rear their brood,
choosing, as a rule, a dry spot on a turf-wall or a rush-grown mound rising above the general level. On the
(iiouse-iiioors Bad OB the steep mountain-sides in the northern counties, this Pipit is plentifully distributed,
being occasionally seen at an elevation considerably over one thousand feet in height. A ledge of rock or a
Iuft of grass serves to ward olf the cutting winds from their uniledged young.
The eggs of this species vary greatly, though not to tin- same extent as those of the Tree-Pipit, many shades
of red, brown, and grey being frequently met with. On .1 une 1,1S70, I drove a bird oil' her nest in the long grass
on the marsh-wall round lleighnui Sounds, in Norfolk. On examining the five eggs on which she was silting.
1 discovered they were unlike any I had previously met with. There was not the slightest doubt as to the
identity of the bin!, as she rose at my feet; and the nest was unmistakable. In order, however, that there should
be an possibility of an error, I approached the spit again after a short interval, and captured in a butterlly-uet
a female Meadow-Pipit. The eggs were utterly unlike those of any British bird, The ground was a pale bluo
(the same shade as the egg of the Wheatear), spotted with moderately sized markings of a pale violet or bluish
grey, a darker spot of the same tint showing here and there. The whole live were much alike, the size of the
markings and the thickness and regularity of the spots ou each individual shell being almost precisely similar.
In shape they were somewhat longer than the usual egg of Anl/111* prittftitit. On examining them again
today (August 31, 1SS2J I lind their shades have but very slightly faded during the lapse of eleven years and
a quarter.
The nest of the Meadow-Pipit is frequently chosen by the Cuckoo as the cradle in which it deposits its
egg. 1 have noticed this fact repeatedly on the downs of Susses, and also on several occasions in the
High lands.
T R E K - P I P I T .
ANTHVS ARBOREVS.
Is the valley of the Spey, particularly throughout those parts of the forest of Glen more where the timber
is composed of old though node rate-si zed Scotch fir, this Pipit may lie met with in numbers during the
breeding-season. I have also observed a few scattered pairs on somewhat similar ground in Boas shin I In
the more northern counties I failed to meet with ¡1, and was also unable to learn any tidings from keepers
who, 1 was aware, were well acquainted with the species. Perthshire is probably visited by the Tree-Pipit;
hut 1 cannot lind in my note-books any record of its having attracted my attention. In suitable localities in
the south of Scotland this species may he sceu, though, according to my own experience, it is far luoru
uncommon than in the southern and eastern counties of England.
The Tree-Pipit is only a summer visitor to th.1 llritish Islands, usually making its appearance towards the
cud of April, and frequently being observed iu considerable numbers scattered over the country in the vicinity
of the south const for some time previous to its departure in the autumn.
The note of this Pipit, which is lively and pleasing, is uttered in the air, the songster rising from the
topmost branches of a tree and slowly dripping with extended wings. It is known to bird-fanciers as the
singing Titlark. This species may readily be distinguished from the Meadow-Pipit by its superior size
and the shorter hind toe.
The nest is most co.inuonly placed beneath the shelter of sonic small shrub in a plantation or the edge
of o clearing in a wood, I have, however, observed it iu the open in such a situation as might have been
chosen by its relative the Meadow-Pipit. Ou June 27,. ] sT.'i. 11 hile examining a colony of the foi-'-ter-ni ilh
oil the South Downs, between Brighton and Lewes, I disturbed a Tree-Pipit from her nest. This was placed
among the grass on the hare hillside, the nearest timber being a plantation of Beoteh lir and beech ou the
opposite side of a road, at a distance of so in; fifty or sixty yards. The female was eventually captured ia a
hutterlly-nct, and is now in my oolleetiuu.
The eggs of this species vary considerably, all shades between a deep red-brown and a dull grey being
mally met with, streaked, scrawled, and spotted iu every cancellable manner.