154 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



The Tree Pipit has the general colour of the 

 upper parts sandy-brown, the feathers with nearly- 

 black centres ; the eye-stripe is pale buff ; the wings 

 are brown, the greater and median coverts tipped 

 with buffish-white, forming a conspicuous double 

 bar ; the tail is dark brown, the outermost pair of 

 feathers white with an oblong brownish patch on the 

 inner webs, the next pair tipped only with white. 

 The general colour of the under parts is pale buff, 

 palest on the breast, spotted or streaked with 

 blackish -brown. The female resembles the male in 

 colour, and the nestlings are similar to the adults but 

 more profusely spotted. The total length of this 

 bird is about six inches. The Tree Pipit may always 

 be identified by its short and curved hind claw, 

 never so long as the hind toe. 



