M0TACILL1D.«. 



131 



THE TREE-PIPIT. 



Anthus trivialis (LinncTus). 



The Pipits superficially resemble the Larks, but differ from them 

 considerably in structure and some of their habits ; while they agree 

 with the Wagtails in almost every respect, except in the coloration 

 of the plumage. Like the latter birds, Pipits moult twice in the year 

 - — partially in spring — and they are equally fond of bathing ; while 

 I-arks have only an autumnal moult, and usually dust themselves 

 over, instead of washing. 



The Tree-Pipit generally arrives in the southern portions of 

 England early in April ; and, except in the west of Cornwall, it 

 is fairly distributed throughout the country in summer ; while in 

 Wales it is very common in the moist, wooded valleys suited to its 

 habits. In Scotland, where it is often mis-named " Wood-Lark," it 

 is plentiful in the south-west districts, while it appears to be fairly 

 diffused in other parts of the country, but it is rarer in the north, is 

 very local in Aberdeenshire, has only been detected breeding in 

 Sutherlandshire since 1875, and is merely a wanderer to the Orkneys. 

 In Ireland its reported occurrence has not yet been authenticated. 

 The majority depart for the south during the month of September, 

 but in the west the late Mr. Cecil Smith observed a flock of about 



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