MEADOW PIPIT. 185 



gau on the stony summits of the central Grampians, in the 

 grassy valleys of the Highland streams, in the fertile plains of 

 the south, and on the downs that border the sea, it is equally 

 at home ; but it is more abundant in the green pastures that 

 flank the upland glens, and on the sedgy moors of the interior. 

 There it is seen at all seasons, in small companies, flying about 

 in its peculiar wavering manner, and chirping its weak, shrill 

 note. In winter, however, most of the individuals betake 

 themselves to the lower grounds, many to the sea-shore, where 

 they mingle with the Rock Pipits. During snow, they search 

 the margins of streams and lakes, frequent unfrozen marshes, 

 and even appear in the stack-yards. Their food consists of 

 insects, pupae, larvre, and occasionally small seeds, along with 

 which they pick up particles of gravel, and frequently in the 

 lower districts small bits of coal and other dark coloured sub- 

 stances. When searching for it, they walk by short alternate 

 steps, keeping the body close to the ground, in the manner of 

 the Sky Lark, and when alarmed either crouch, or spring up, 

 uttering a repetition of their ordinary cheeping note, and fly off" 

 to a distance. You may see them perch occasionally on a bush 

 or tree, frequently on a wall, a stone, or a rock ; but they are 

 essentially ground birds, and while they are employed all day 

 in traversing the meadows and pastures, they repose at night 

 among the dry grass of the moors and hills, or under the shel- 

 ter of tufts of heath, furze, or other small shrubs. Their ordi- 

 nary flight is wavering and desultory, but when travelling they 

 fly w^ith speed, in an undulating line. They are not generally 

 very shy, so that they are easily shot, but at the same time they 

 are evidently watchful and suspicious, and fly off" when one ap- 

 proaches nearer than thirty yards. 



When the warm weather commences they pair, and disperse 

 over the moors and pastures. The song of the male is rather 

 pleasant, being composed of a series of sharp modulated notes, 

 which it utters on wing, first ascending, silently, or emitting 

 only its usual cheep, to the height of about twenty yards, and 

 then descending with expanded wings and tail. Sometimes 

 also it sings when perched on a stone or crag. Its song may 

 be heard from the middle of April to the end of July. During 



