58 



BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



flDeabow pipit 



The Meadow Pipit (yAnthus prateiisis^ Linnaeus) is a common 

 resident species throughout the British Isles, but is subject 

 to partial migration in winter. It also breeds in most parts 

 of Europe, and winters in Africa. The adult in summer is 

 olive-brown above, the feathers having black centres, those 

 on the mantle margined with whitish; wing-coverts and 

 secondaries, brown, edged with bufifish-white; primaries, 

 dark brown, with exterior margins of yellowish -green; 

 eye-stripe, yellowish-buff; throat and breast, tawny-buff, 

 the latter closely streaked with blackish-brown; flanks, 

 tinged with olive and streaked broadly with black; lower 

 parts, bufBsh; tail, dark brown; outer tail-feathers, mostly 

 white; irides, dark brown; bill, blackish; legs and feet, 



light brown. 



Length, about six inches. 



