MEADOW PIPIT. 



893 



rather shorter than the others, and dark brown ; the outer 

 tail-feather on each side white, with a small patch of brown on 

 the broad inner web ; the next tail-feather on each side dark 

 brown, with a small patch of white at the tip of the inner 

 web ; the six other tail-feathers blackish brown ; the chin, 

 throat, and sides of the neck, pale brownish white ; ear- 

 coverts a uniform patch of darker brown ; the breast spotted 

 with dark brown, on dull white tinged with brown, the spots 

 more numerous than on the same part in the Tree Pipit ; 

 belly and under tail-coverts dull white tinged with brown ; 

 legs, toes, and claws, light brown ; the claw of the hind toe 

 slender, slightly curved, and as long as the toe. 



The plumage obtained at the moult which immediately 

 follows the rearing of the young, has on the upper surface a 

 rich tinge of olive mixed with the light brown colour, and the 

 under surface is enriched with an ochrcous yellow, both these 

 colours remaining till the following spring, about which time 

 it is lost by degrees, apparently from the age of the feather. 



The whole length of the bird is six inches. From the car- 

 pal joint to the end of the longest primary three inches, to 

 three inches and one eighth : the first four quill-feathers near- 

 ly equal in length, but the first is the most pointed in shape, 

 and rather the longest in the wing. 



Young birds of the year have the olivaceous and yellow 

 tints similar to those on the plumage of ihe parent birds in 

 autumn after their moult. 



