132 



TREE-PIPIT. 



a score preparing to migrate from the cliffs near Exmouth on the 

 26th of October. 



A specimen of the Tree-Pipit is said to have been brought by the 

 Austrian Expedition from Jan Mayan [?] On the Continent this 

 species breeds as far north as Tromso in Norway, and southward to 

 the Pyrenees, the higher grounds of Nortliern Italy, and the 

 Crimea; below which it is principally know^n as a migrant in 

 spring and autumn, or as a resident in winter; as it is also in the 

 northern portion of Africa, from the Canaries and Morocco on the 

 west, to Egypt, Nubia and Abyssinia on the east. It occurs in Siberia 

 in summer as far east as Krasnoiarsk in the valley of the Yenesei, 

 where it meets with A. maculatus, a closely-allied form, more olive- 

 green in colour and with few dusky streaks on the upper parts. In 

 winter the Tree-Pipit has been found in India, as far south as 

 Belgaum and as far east as Chutia-Nagpur (Oates). 



About the middle of May the nest, placed on the ground among 

 herbage, is constructed of moss, dry grass and roots, lined with fine 

 bents and a little hair. The 4-6 eggs are subject to much 

 variation ; some being greyish-white, mottled with deep brown ; 

 others rich reddish-brown; some almost lilac-pink; and ogain a 

 not uncommon variety resembles the egg of the Reed-Bunting : 

 measurements '82 by "6 in. Two broods are sometimes reared in 

 the .season. The food consists principally of insects, with small 

 seeds. The song of the male, see-ar, see-ar, see-ar, is generally 

 begun on the topmost branch of a tree, after which the bird rises 

 and hovers in the air, and descends — still singing — to his perch. 



Adult male : eye-stripe buff; upper parts clear sandy-brown with 

 distinct dark brown streaks ; wing-coverts and secondaries dark 

 brown with paler edges ; primaries dull brown ; outer pair of tail- 

 feathers white, with a dark brown stripe on part of the inner webs ; 

 the second pair merely tipped with white, and otherwise dark brown, 

 like the remaining rectrices ; chin dull white; throat buff, with a dark 

 line on each side from the bill to the gorget ; sides of the neck, breast 

 and flanks buff, with elongated spots and streaks of dark brown ; 

 belly dull white ; bill brown above, lighter below ; legs and feet pale 

 flesh-colour in life, but yellowish-brown in preserved specimens. 

 Length 6 in. ; wing y^ in. The female is slightly smaller, and less 

 distinctly spotted on the breast. In autumn the buff tint is more 

 pronounced ; and in young birds the spots and streaks are smaller 

 in size, but more numerous. The Tree-Pipit may always be distin- 

 guished from the Meadow-Pipit by its somewhat larger size, warmer 

 buff tint, paler legs, and much shorter and more curved hind claw. 



