104 fDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



coverts sandy-buff; median and greater upper wing-coverts 

 tipped with white, forming a double wing-bar; the pattern of 

 the outer tail-feathers white, with an oblique dusky-brown mark 

 on the inner web ; bill dark-brown, the lower mandible fleshy ; 

 feet dark-brown; iris pale-brown. Total length, 60 inches; 

 oilmen, 055; wing, 3-45; tail, 2-55; tarsus, 0-9. 



Adult Female. — Similar to the male, but with narrower streaks 

 on the under surface of the body. Total length, 6 inches ; 

 wing, 3-45. 



Winter Plumage. — Brighter than in summer, the general tone 

 of the plumage richer buff, especially below, where there is a 

 more tawny shade. The bird passes through a complete 

 moult before leaving its winter quarters, as a pair which we kept 

 in confinement through an entire winter moulted in March of 

 the following year. 



Note. — The Tree-Pipit can always be distinguished from the other Brit- 

 ish species by its curved hind claw, which is not so long as the hind toe itself. 



Range in Great Britain. — A summer visitor, affecting wooded 

 districts, and breeding in most parts of the British Islands ; 

 but becoming rarer in the northern portions of Scotland. 

 Almost unknown in Ireland. 



Range outside the British Islands. — Breeding throughout the 

 greater portions of Central and Northern Europe, and as far 

 east as the Valley of the Yenesei, reaching to lat. 62 in the 

 latter country, to about lat. 65 in the Petchora Valley, an 1 to 

 69 in Norway. In the Mediterranean countries it is a migrant,', 

 though a few are said to breed on the mountains. It winters 

 in Africa, and in North-western and Western India. Further 

 to the eastward the Tree-Pipit disappears ; but its place is 

 taken by a closely allied species, the Indian Tree-Pipit 

 (Anthus maculatus), which inhabits the greater part of Eastern 

 Siberia, and ranges west to the Yenesei. Its winter home is 

 in the plains of India and Burma, but always on the eastern 

 side of the Indian Peninsula. The Indian Pipit closely 

 ubles our own bird, but is more olive-green in colour, and 

 has much larger spots of black on the breast. 



Habits. At first sight, the present species might easily be 

 mistaken foi the Common 'lit lark, or Meadow-Pipit, but its 



