AMERICAN PIPIT. 



TITLARK. 



Anthus pensilvanicus. 



Char. Above, olive brown, edges of the feathers paler; line over 

 and around the eye pale buff ; wings dusky, edges of feathers pale brown ; 

 tail dusky, middle feathers olive brown, large patches of white on outer 

 feathers; below, dull buff, breast and sides spotted with brown. Length 

 6%, inches. 



A'est. On the ground, usually sheltered by stone or mound ; a bulky 

 affair of grass, stems, moss, and lichens, — sometimes only grass is used, 

 — often loosely made, occasionally compact. 



E;Tgs. 4-6; variable in color, usually dull white covered thickly with 

 reddish brown and purplish brown ; sometimes the markings so nearly 

 conceal the ground color as to give appearance of a brown egg with 

 gray streaks ; 080 X 060. 



This is a winter bird of passage in most parts of the United 

 States, arriving in loose, scattered flocks from the North, in 

 the Middle and Eastern States, about the second week in 

 October. In the month of April we saw numerous flocks 

 flitting over the prairies of Missouri, on their way, no doubt, 

 to their breeding quarters in the interior. Audubon found 

 these birds also in the summer on the dreary coast of Labra- 

 dor. During the breeding season the male often rises on wing 

 to the height of eight or ten yards, uttering a few clear and 



