THE MEADOW PIPIT, OR TITLING. 



231 



and active in its movements, often jerking its long tail in a fashion that reminds the observer 

 of the Wagtail's habits. It moves with considerable celerity, tripping over the rough and 

 rocky ground which ic frequents, and picking up insects with the stroke of its unerring beak. 

 Its food, however, is of a mixed description, as in the crops of several individuals were found 

 seeds, insect and water-shells, some of the latter being entire. 



The song of this bird is hardly deserving of the name, being rather a feeble and plaintive 

 "cheeping" than a true song. While uttering its notes, the Meadow Pipit is generally on 

 the wing, but does not begin to sing until it has attained its full elevation, reserving its voice 

 for the gradual descent. The song is begun quite early in the season, but as the bird is so 

 partial to waste lands, it is not heard so commonly as that of rarer birds. It is gregarious in 

 its habits, assembling in little flocks, which generally come to the cultivated grounds about 

 September or October, and roost amicably together on the ground at night. 



The nest of this species is placed on the ground, and generally hidden in a large grass-tuft. 

 It appears, from some observations made by Mr. Thompson, that the bird is in the habit of 

 carrying dead grasses and laying them over her nest whenever she leaves her eggs or young. 

 The object of this precaution is not, however, very evident, as the grass is usually of a different 

 hue from the surrounding foliage, and apparently serves rather as a guide to the nest than a 

 concealment. The eggs are from four to six in number, of a dark brown color, speckled freely 

 with reddish-brown. The cuckoo is said to favor the Meadow Pipit with her society rather 

 more frequently than is agreeable to the bird, and to give it the labor of rearing her voracious 

 young. 



The general color of this Pipit is dark olive-brown, with a wash of green upon the upper 

 parts ; the wings are very dark brown, sprinkled with white, and the tail is also brown, with 

 the exception of a white streak on each exterior feather, and a few white spots towards the 

 extremity. The under surface is brownish-white, and upon the breast of the male there is a 

 pale rosy tinge. Upon the breast there are a number of dark brown spots. The colors of the 

 plumage undergo a decided change in the autumn, and are more showy than those of the 

 summer ; the olive-green on the back becoming more conspicuous and the under surface tinged 

 with yellow. 



This bird goes by 

 different names. In many 

 places it is termed the 

 Moss-cheeper, in allusion 

 to its peculiar plaintive 

 note. In other parts it 

 is known by the title of 

 Ling-bird, on account of 

 its habit of haunting the 

 waste moorlands. In Ire- 

 land the bird is called the 

 Wekeen, a name which 

 evidently alludes to its 

 note. It has been found 

 all over Europe, and in 

 many countries extend- 

 ing as far northward as 

 Sweden and Norway in 

 the summer months, and 

 having even been seen in 

 Iceland. Specimens have 

 been taken in Egypt and 

 several parts of Africa, and also in the west of India. It has also been included in the list 

 of Japanese birds, so that it possesses a range of locality which is seldom enjoyed by any 

 single species. Although the bird is so small and delicate, being only six inches in length, it 



TREE PIPIT. Anthm arboreus. 



