TREE PIPIT. 71 



Family MOTACILLID/E. Genus Anthus. 



TREE PIPIT. 



Anthus trivialis {Linnceus). 

 Single Brooded generally. Laying season, May and June. 



British breeding area: With the exception of 

 Wales and the extreme south-west (Cornwall and parts 

 of Devon) the Tree Pipit is a widely and commonly 

 distributed species in England, due allowance of course 

 being made for the suitability of the district to its re- 

 quirements. In Scotland it becomes much more local, 

 its principal strongholds being in the south, especially in 

 the Solway area and near Glasgow. It becomes much 

 rarer in the north, although it has been found breeding 

 as high as Sutherlandshire. The evidence for this species 

 having bred in Ireland is unreliable. 



Breeding habits : The Tree Pipit is a summer 

 visitor to our islands, arriving in April. Its principal 

 haunts during the nesting period are well-timbered farm 

 lands, the more open spaces in old forests, the borders of 

 woods and plantations, and in parks. It is not impro- 

 bable that this Pipit pairs for life, as season after season 

 the old haunts are tenanted, and even certain trees are 

 used year by year as perching-places for the males, during 

 the intervals of their song-flights. The nest, invariably 

 built upon the ground, is generally well concealed 

 amongst herbage, although not unfrequently it may be 

 found in very exposed situations, such as on the short 

 turf under a tree in the pastures. Sometimes it is made 

 on an open bank in the woods, or amongst growing 

 grass, clover, grain, and such-like crops. Banks below 

 hedges, either in the fields or by the wayside, are some- 

 times selected, as is also the shelter of a little bush or 



