MEADOW PIPIT. 73 



ment, -82 inch in length, by '6 inch in breadth. The 

 female performs most of the duties of incubation, which 

 lasts thirteen or fourteen days. 



Diagnostic characters : The pinkish or redd'sh- 

 brown appearance of the densely-marked eggs, and the 

 bold spots and blotches of the olive types, are generally 

 Sufficient to distinguish the eggs of the Tree Pipit from 

 those of the Meadow Pipit ; the eggs of the latter bird 

 are also smaller and more constantly browner. The 

 eggs of the Rock Pipit are sometimes met with of a 

 reddish tint ; but olive-browns prevail. The Rock Pipit 

 also never breeds inland, only on rocky coasts. 



Family MOTACILLID.^. Genus Antiius. 



MEADOW PIPIT. 



Anthus pratensis {Lt7inceus). 

 Single Brooded generally. Laying season, April to June. 



British breeding area : The Meadow Pipit is by 

 far the commonest and most widely distributed species 

 of this genus breeding in the British Islands. It breeds 

 more or less commonly in almost every part of the 

 United Kingdom, including the Channel Islands in the 

 south, the Orkneys and Shetlands in the north, the 

 Hebrides, St. Kilda, and the Blasket Islands in the 

 west. 



Breeding habits : Few British birds breed more 

 generally throughout our islands, on uplands and low- 

 lands alike, than the unobtrusive Meadow Pipit. It may 

 be found nesting almost everywhere — on moorlands 

 and mountains, on sea-girt islets, on commons, pastures. 



