NON-INDIGENOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 43 



Family MOTACILLID.^. Genus Anthus. 



RICHARD'S PIPIT. 



Anthus richardi, Vieillot. 



(British : Abnormal autumn migrant.) 



Double Brooded. Laying season, June and July. 



Breeding area : East-central Palaearctic region. 

 Richard's Pipit is confined during the breeding season 

 to the great steppe regions of Central Asia. It has 

 been met with breeding as far north as lat. 58° in the 

 valley of the Yenesay, and nests in great numbers on 

 the steppes of the Baikal area, and Dauria, southwards 

 to Eastern Thibet, and thence westwards to Eastern 

 Turkestan. 



Breeding habits : The haunts of Richard's Pipit 

 during the breeding season are well-watered plains, wet 

 meadows and pastures, and the swampy areas of the 

 steppes. Like the Meadow Pipit this bird is essentially 

 aquatic in its choice of a breeding place. But little has 

 been recorded of the nidification of this species, owing 

 to observers neglecting their opportunities. It was met 

 with breeding by Dybowsky on the elevated plateaux 

 of the Baikal area, and this naturalist gives many 

 particulars concerning it. Prjevalsky observed it nesting 

 on the East Mongolian steppes, frequenting wet land 

 studded with rushes ; and Dr. Scully found it during 

 the summer near Yarkand, frequenting swampy turf- 

 covered ground ; whilst lastly, TAbbe David found it 

 breeding also in Mongolia, and states that it nests 

 amongst grass near water. Incredulous as it may seem, 

 not one of these fortunate naturalists has taken the 

 trouble to describe the nest of Richard's Pipit, and it 

 remains absolutely unknown save to the few men who 



