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MEADOW PIPIT. 

 Anthus pratensis {L.). 



Resident ; generally distributed ; abundant in summer, especialljr 

 in moorland and marshy districts. A regular spring and autuma 

 migrant. 



Historically the earliest allusion to this bird in Yorkshire 

 is made in a communication, dated 1678, from Ralph 

 Johnson, of Brignall, near Greta Bridge, a friend and 

 correspondent of John Ray, in the following terms : — 



" Honoured Sir, .... I have only observed this change 

 from proper colours to white .... to be very usual in 

 ' Titlarks,' which I have seen on our moors." (Corres. of 

 John Ray, p. 96, 1848.) 



Thomas Allis, 1844, wrote : — 



Anthus pratensis. — Titlark or Meadow Pipit — Frequent in most 

 parts ; breeds abundantly on the moors. 



One of our commonest birds, the Meadow Pipit is found 

 breeding from the low-lying marshes near the coast up to the 

 highest moorland districts, where at both extremes it is most 

 abundant. In more highly cultivated parts, though by nO' 

 means uncommon, it is not so much in evidence, for this species 

 loves open uninclosed tracts ; being a common and generally 

 diffused bird of the fields, commons, moors, and marshes 

 it requires no further notice as regards its distribution. During^ 

 the winter months the Titlark, as it is best known to Yorkshire- 

 men, is reported as being scarce or altogether absent from 

 every part of the county above 300 feet elevation, while even 

 in more congenial localities it is much scarcer at this season 

 than in summer, and there can be little doubt that the bulk 

 of our breeding birds are summer visitors. 



The migration of the Meadow Pipit at the coast is a very 

 noticeable feature of bird life and, as a rule, it makes its 

 appearance a little earlier than the Pied Wagtail ; the first 

 comers in the latter part of February, but the main body 

 in the middle of March, and at this period, at the Tees and 



