134 MEADOW-PIPIT. 



but the migratory individuals which arrive from the south in April 

 are somewhat later. The nest, placed among sheltering herbage in 

 a depression of the level ground or the side of a bank, and often in 

 ling, is constructed of dry grass with a lining of finer materials ; the 

 eggs, usually 4-6 in number, being greyish-white — sometimes with a 

 green and at others with a pinkish tint — thickly mottled with 

 different shades of brown, and occasionally having a few hair-streaks 

 at the larger end : measurements 78 by "57 in. Two broods are 

 generally reared in the season. In many districts, especially on 

 the moorlands where other small species of birds are comparatively 

 scarce, the Cuckoo commonly places her egg in the nest of the 

 Meadow-Pipit. The rather shrill song is generally uttered on the 

 wing, but sometimes from a stone or low bush. The food consists 

 of insects, worms, small snails and molluscs, with seeds in winter ; 

 and in search of these the bird may be seen working its way among 

 grass or heather with a slow creeping movement, varied by an occa- 

 sional quick run. Its flight is jerky and wavering. The scent 

 emitted by the Titlark is very strong, and dogs 'point' it more 

 frequently than they do any other ground-bird. 



Adult male : eye-stripe narrow and dull white ; upper parts olive- 

 brown, with dark stripes down the centre of the feathers ; quills dark 

 brown, v/ith a greenish-yellow tint on the margins of the outer webs; 

 wing-coverts and inner secondaries (the latter being shorter than the 

 primaries) brown, edged with dull white ; tail dark brown, except 

 the outer pair of feathers which are white on the terminal part, while 

 the second pair have a white spot near the tip ; under parts dull 

 white, streaked with brownish-black on the throat, gorget and flanks ; 

 bill dark brown above and at the tip, the rest paler ; legs and feet 

 pale brown ; hind claw longer than the hind-toe, and only slightly 

 curved. Length 575 in. ; wing yi in. The female is less richly 

 spotted below. After the autumn moult, the upper as well as the 

 under parts are suffused with a yellowish-buff tint ; and in spring 

 this hue is very noticeable on the throats of fresh arrivals from the 

 Continent. The young are even more buff-coloured, but the streaks 

 on the under parts are smaller and browner than in the adults. 



