ANTHITS. 583 



coverts and quills below dusky brown, paler on the inner web of the 

 latter. Total length 6-2 inches, culmen 0-5, wing 3-15, tail 2-45, 

 tarsus 0-85. 



Adult female in hreeding-plumage. Similar to the male, but less 

 richly spotted below. Total length 6 inches, culmen 0-45, wing 2'95, 

 taU 2-25, tarsus 0-8. 



The buff colour on the throat and breast is very pronounced in 

 spring, recalling A. cervinus in appearance. It seems to last 

 but a very short time, being assumed by a spring moult, and 

 rapidly wears off, leaving the whole under surface of the body 

 dull whitish, and the entire aspect of the bird very plain. 



The specimens of the Meadow-Pipit which arrive in England in 

 March and April from the continent are very bright buff on the 

 throat and breast, in some instances nearly as bright as in A. cer- 

 vinus. The resident Meadow-Pipits have already begun breeding 

 before these bright-plumaged individuals arrive, and present a very 

 worn appearance, the breast being dull white by the end of March ; 

 they appear, however, to go through a buff-throated stage like the 

 Continental migrants, but lose it sooner. 



Yoimr/. RecaUs the colour of the adults, but is rather more dusky 

 above, without the olive shade, the centi-al black markings to the 

 feathers being much broader, with sandy-buff edges ; wings and tail 

 as in the adult, but the edges to the feathers more sandy, and with- 

 out any white at the tips of the median and greater coverts ; under 

 surface of body yellowish or sandy buff, with distinct black streaks 

 and spots as in the adult, but rather narrower ; the black malar 

 streak very distinct, as well as two more on the sides of the 

 throat. 



Autuimi plumage. Much more olive-brown than the summer dress, 

 the wing-coverts and quills much more plainly margined ; under- 

 neath sandy buff, isabelline on the lower breast and abdomen, the 

 black spots very distinct on the sides of the throat, breast, and 

 flanks ; olive-yellow on the axillaries very distinct. 



I cannot perceive any difference between the winter plumage 

 of the young and old birds of the Meadow- Pipit. The sandy- 

 buff colour sometimes extends over the abdomen as well as the 

 breast. 



Small specimens are sometimes met with in the autumn with 

 a wing of not more than 2"9 inches. They are probablj' females in 

 every instance. 



Hah. The whole of Europe, ranging south into Northern and 

 North-eastern Africa in the winter, and extending westwards to 

 the valley of the Ob and Turkestan. Occasionally wanders into 

 Greenland. 



«, 6,c. c?; rf. 5 juv. Fermanagh, Ii-eland, Earl of Enniskillen [P.]. 



sk. Sept. 9. 



<')./"■ 6 ; 9, h- ? a,d. Fermanagh, Ireland, Earl of Ennisldllen [P.]. 



sk. Nov. 6. 



i, h. S 9. ad. St. Hebrides. Theodore Walker, Esq. 



[P.]. 



