128 RElJ-THROATED PIPIT. 



up to the month of April ; by which time it has assumed full breed- 

 ing-plumage. Westward, in North Africa it becomes rarer, but it is 

 found on migration throughout the basin of the Alediterranean, from 

 Asia Minor to Gibraltar ; and it passes through the greater part of 

 Europe on the way to and from its northern breeding-grounds, 

 although it is scarce to the west of Heligoland. 



The Red-throated Pipit makes its nest in the sides of the tussocky 

 ridges of the bogs or tiifidras of the north ; dry grass being the 

 material employed, with a finer lining of the same. The eggs, 4-6 

 in number, vary from a nearly uniform rich mahogany colour to a 

 greenish-grey with dark brown mottlings : average measurements 

 •75 by "58 in. In late springs breeding does not commence before 

 the last week in June, so that only one brood can be reared in the 

 season. Its note is louder and more full than that of the Meadow- 

 Pipit. The food consists principally of insects and their larvae, 

 small worms, molluscs and grass seeds. In its winter quarters the 

 Red-throated Pipit is gregarious ; and frequents planted fields where 

 there is cover. 



The adult male, in breeding-plumage, is distinctly more rufous- 

 brown on the upper parts than the Meadow-Pipit, and the black 

 streaks are more pronounced ; the eye-stripe is broad and of a 

 rufous-buff; the tail as in the Meadow-Pipit; the inner secondaries 

 nearly equal to the primaries and longer than in the above species ; 

 the chin, throat, sides of the neck and breast vinous-chestnut ; the 

 gorget with fewer and smaller spots than in the Meadow-Pipit, but 

 the flanks with larger ones ; abdomen buff; bill dark above, yellowish 

 below; legs and feet light brown. Length 5-8 in.; wing 3 "5 in. 

 In the female the vinous-chestnut only extends to the throat, and 

 her breast and flanks are more streaked with black ; she is also 

 smaller in size. In winter the red throat is only found in very old 

 birds, and at that season the feathers of the mantle are margined 

 with white ; the general tint being greyish-brown, without the olive- 

 green of the Meadow-Pipit. Birds of the year are very bufif-coloured 

 on both upper and lower parts ; while even in December there is a 

 little rufous round the eye and on the cheeks, and that tint is slightly 

 apparent on the throat. 



