148 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



group of somewhat aberrant Pipits is found remark- 

 able for the bright colouration of their breasts ; these 

 are distinguished by systematists under the term 

 Macronyx. Many of the Pipits undertake migra- 

 tions of considerable extent ; others are more 

 sedentary, or move from upland districts to lower 

 country after the breeding season is over. The 

 vocal attainments of the Pipits cannot perhaps rank 

 very high, still some of the species are pleasing 

 songsters ; whilst their habit of singing on the wing 

 brings their music into prominence. There can 

 be little doubt that some of the best songsters in 

 this group are those indigenous to the British 

 Islands. Perhaps the most musical extra British 

 Pipits are the Red-throated Pipit and the Tawny 

 Pipit, both species being abnormal migrants to our 

 area. The song of the former is described by 

 Seebohm as being more melodious and prolonged 

 than that of the Meadow Pipit, and more nearly 

 resembling that of the Tree Pipit. We heard much 

 of the Tawny Pipit's song when travelling in North 

 Africa. The bird has the usual habit of fluttering 

 into the air to sing, but not rising to such a height 

 as the familiar Tree Pipit, and its song is almost as 

 loud as that of the Sky-Lark, but neither so rich nor 

 melodious, and of course remarkably short. Three 

 species of Pipits breed in the British Islands — and 

 therefore sing in them — and these we will now 

 proceed to discuss. 



