288 BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



in the rocks, and from the even more important rehcs pre- 

 served in the bodies of the living birds, especially the 

 young birds, of to-day. Thus only can we hope ever to 

 fathom some of the mysteries of the dim past. 



THE TREE=PIPIT 



(Anthus trivialis). 

 Plate 100. 



The name of this species indicates that it is an 

 arboreal bird. It is not, however, very markedly arboreal 

 except in comparison with its allies. It perches in trees 

 habitually, and often sings from their branches and other 

 prominent situations. But it is a ground-nesting bird like 

 the other members of the family. 



The Tree-Pipit has perhaps the best right to be con- 

 sidered as the type of its genus ; but we have followed 

 om' usual custom in giving priority to the wider spread and 

 more generally familiar Meadow-Pipit. For the Tree-Pipit 

 has a much more restricted British range. For one thing, 

 it is another of those species which are absent from the 

 Irish avifauna, although common in Great Britain ; there 

 is not a single reliable record of the Tree-Pipit occurring 

 in Ireland, even as a mere wanderer. From the Scottish 

 isles the species is also absent, except as an uncommon 

 migrant, and it is very scarce and local on the northern 

 part of the mainland. But from central Scotland south- 

 wards it is common in the wooded districts of Great 

 Britain during the summer months. For it is only a 

 summer visitor to om- area ; mid- April and September are 

 the times of the chief migi'ations. 



As already stated, the Tree-Pipit nests on the ground. 



