iMOTACILLID/E. 



133 



THE WATER-PIPIT. 



Anthus SPiPoi.ih'TA (Linnceus). 



The true Water-Pipit is a very rare straggler to England, but its 

 occurrences have been estimated as more frequent than was really 

 the case, owing to a confusion with the Scandinavian form of the 

 Rock-Pipit, which occasionally visits us. The first authenticated 

 examples of the Water-Pipit were recorded by Mr. Pratt of Brighton, 

 in 1864, when one killed near that town, and another taken near 

 Worthing, were sent to Gould for identification. On October 26th 

 1868, a third was shot at Shoreham, and in March 1877, one — in 

 the collection of Mr. F. Nicholson— was obtained at Lancing. 

 Sussex is therefore the only county in which this species has yet 

 been recognized. It may always be distinguished from the Rock- 

 Pipit by the distinctly 7i.iliiic colour of the outer [)art of the e.xterior 

 pair of tail-feathers, and the white tips to the second pair ; and, 

 although in young birds this white is not so pure as has been 

 asserted, it is sufficiently so to distinguish the s[)ecies from even the 

 Scandinavian form of the Rock-Pipit, wliich, in its turn, is brighter 

 than our resident bird. 



During the breeding-season the ^^'ater-Pipit is to be found on 



