124 TREE-PIPIT. 



west Mr. Cecil Smith observed a flock of about a score preparing 

 to migrate from the cHffs near Exmouth on the 26th of October. 



A specimen of the Tree-Pipit is said to have been brought by the 

 Austrian Expedition from Jan Mayen ! On the Continent it breeds 

 as far north as Tromso in Norway, and southward, to the Pyrenees, 

 the higher grounds of Northern Italy, and the Crimea. South of this 

 it is principally known as a migrant in spring and autumn, or as a 

 resident in winter ; as it is also in the northern portion of Africa, 

 from Morocco, on the west, to Egypt, Nubia and Abyssinia on the 

 east ; while it has been recorded from about 25° S. lat. It occurs 

 in Siberia in summer as far east as Krasnoiarsk in the valley of the 

 Yenesei, where it meets with A. inaciihifus, a closely-allied form, of a 

 more olive-green colour with but few dusky streaks on the upper 

 parts ; and in winter it is found as far to the south-east as Assam. 



The nest, placed on the ground among herbage, is constructed of 

 moss, dry grass and roots, lined with fine bents and a little hair. 

 The eggs, 4-6. are subject to much variation ; some being greyish- 

 white, mottled with deep brown ; others are rich reddish-brown ; 

 some are almost lilac-pink ; and again a not uncommon variety 

 resembles the egg of the Reed-Bunting: average measurements "82 

 by '6 in. Two broods are sometimes reared in the season. The 

 food consists principally of insects, with small seeds. The song of 

 the male — somewhat like that of the Canary — is generally begun on 

 the topmost branch of a tree, after which the bird hovers in the 

 air and descends, still singing, to his perch. 



Adult male : eye-stripe buff ; upper parts clear sandy-brown with 

 distinct dark brown streaks ; wing-coverts and secondaries dark brown 

 with paler edges ; primaries dull brown ; the outer pair of tail-feathers 

 white, vvith a dark brown stripe on part of the inner webs ; the second 

 pair merely tipped with white, but otherwise, like the remaining 

 feathers, dark brown ; chin dull white ; throat buff, with a dark line 

 on each side from the bill to the gorget ; sides of the neck, breast 

 and flanks buff, with elongated spots and streaks of dark brown ; 

 belly dull white ; bill brown above, lighter below ; legs and feet pale 

 flesh-colour in life, but yellowish-brown in preserved specimens. 

 Length 6 in. ; wing 3-4 in. The female is slightly smaller, and less 

 distinctly spotted on the breast. In autumn the buff tint is more 

 pronounced ; and in young birds the spots and streaks are smaller 

 in size, but more numerous. The Tree-Pipit may always be distin- 

 guished from the Meadow-Pipit by its somewhat larger size, tint of a 

 warmer buff, paler legs, and much shorter and more curved hind claw. 



