BR IT IS If BIRDS' XESTS. 199 



by protection. It is thought that the bird was 

 first introduced by the Romans and brought from 

 the neighbourhood of the Black Sea. Notes : crow 

 of male, a short, loud cackle, and the note of the 

 female, a shrill, piping whistle. Local and other 

 names, none. Sits close and, curiously enough, 

 emits no scent at this period. In a wild state 

 the bird is monogamous, but in this country, in 

 its semi-domesticated condition, it is polygamous. 



PINTAIL DUCK. See Duck, Pintail. 



PIPIT, MEADOW. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about six 

 inches. Bill of medium length, slender, straight, 

 and dark brown, except at the base of the under- 

 mandible, where it is of a lighter tint. Irides 

 hazel. Crown, nape, back, and U2')per tail-coverts 

 dark brown, the border of each feather being of 

 a lighter greyish tint. Wings brownish-black, the 

 feathers being edged with light brown ; tail dark 

 brown, the two outer feathers on either side mar- 

 gined with white, the rest with light brown ; chin 

 and throat dull white ; sides of neck and breast 

 pale huffish- white or yellowish-brown, with numerous 

 elongated dusky spots ; belly and under tail-coverts 

 dull white, tinged with brown. Legs and toes light 

 brown ; claws dusky, hind one long and curved. 



The female is said to be slightly smaller, though 

 the difference is not at all apparent ; her plumage 

 is similar. 



Situation and Localit/j. — On the ground in the 

 shelter of a tuft of grass, heather, bit of overhanging 



