MEADOW PIPIT, 183 



rounded, with a long, slender plumule of few barbs ; somewhat 

 distinct on the upper parts, blended beneath. There are a few 

 short bristle-feathers at the base of the bill. The wings are 

 rather long : the first four primaries are nearly equal, but the 

 third is longest ; the first shorter than the fourth, (whereas in 

 the Tree Pipit, the first is longest) ; the second, third, and 

 fourth, are cut out on the outer web towards the end ; the 

 inner four primaries, and outer five secondaries, are emarginate; 

 the three inner secondaries tapering and rounded, the sixth 

 nearly as long as the longest primaries when the wing is closed. 

 The tail is rather long, and slightly emarginate. 



The edges of the upper mandible, and the greater part of the 

 lower, are yellowish-red, or flesh-colour; the rest of the upper, 

 and the tip of the lower, dusky. The irides are deep blackish- 

 brown. The feet light yellowish-brown ; the claws dusky. 

 The general colour of the upper parts is light greenish-brown, 

 each feather with the central part blackish-brown, excepting 

 on the rump. The quills and coverts are clove-brown, mar- 

 gined with dull greyish-green ; the tips of the first row of 

 small coverts, and of the secondary coverts greenish, inclining 

 to grey. The tail-feathers are dark brown, the two middle 

 lighter and edged with green, the rest very narrowly edged 

 with the same ; the outer having an oblique terminal band of 

 white, occupying nearly half its length ; the rest with a white 

 triangular spot at the tip. The general colour of the lower 

 parts is pale yellowish-grey, or brownish- white, with a tinge of 

 red on the throat and breast. The edges of the eyelids are of 

 the same colour. The cheeks are olivaceous, faintly spotted 

 with dusky ; there is a slender line of dusky spots from the 

 base of the lower mandible down each side of the neck ; the 

 fore part of the breast and the sides, marked, the former with 

 oblongo-triangular, the latter with long, narrow, brownish-black 

 spots ; the abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, unspotted. 



Length to end of tail 6/^ inches ; extent of wings 9| ; bill 

 along the ridge {'^^ along the edge of lower mandible j^ ; wing 

 from flexure 3 ; tail 2^ ; tarsus y| ; first toe j^|, its claw /^ ; 

 second toe ^^, its claw ^^^ ; third toe ^\^ its claw ^^ ; fourth 

 toe y|, its claw -^^. 



