iifi THF TREE PTPTT 



twig and repeated its warble again. This was in the first week in 

 May, and is the only occasion on which I ever heard it really sing. 

 The nest resembles that of the Pied Wagtail, and is jilaced on 

 the gronnd, nsnally in pea-fields. The popular name \\'asher- 

 woman belongs to the whole family. The corresponding term, 

 Lavaudicrc, is also found in France, and was given from the fanciful 

 shnilarity between the beating of the water with its tail by the 

 bird while tripping along the leaves of a water-lily, and the beating 

 of linen in the water by washerwomen, a custom still existing in 

 France, and some ]\arts of England and Ireland. 



THE TREE PIPIT 



ANTHUS TRIVIALIS 



Hind claw slitrter than the toe, and curved so as to form the fourth of a circk' ; 

 upiier parts ash, tinged with olive, the centre of each feather dark brown ; 

 a tlouble band across the wing, formed by the ^-ellowish white tips of the 

 lesser and middle wing-coverts ; throat and region of the eye dull white ; 

 breast reddish yellow, spotted, and at the sides lightly streaked with dark 

 brown. Length six inches. Eggs dull white, variously mottled with 

 purple brown. 



The name Titlark is popularh^ applied to three common species of 

 birds which were formerly placed in the same family with the Sky- 

 lark. Modern ornithologists now place .them in a distinct genus, 

 the characters of which differ from those of the true Lark in that 

 the beak is more slender and slightly notched near the point, the 

 first three quills are nearly of the same length and the outer toe is 

 anitei,l with the middle one as far as the first joint. In colouring, 

 however, in general form, and, to a slight extent, in habits, namely, in 

 the mode of feeding and nesting, there is much similarity between the 

 genera ; but in the power of soaring, the Lark, though imitated by 

 one species, is unrivalled. The old name Titlark, then, must be 

 understood to be merged in the more distinctive title, Pipit, given 

 to three common kinds which severally frequent trees, meadows, 

 and the seashore. Pipits are more allied to the Wagtail family 

 than with Larks. The Tree Pipit alone is a migratory species, 

 arri\'ing in this country towards the end of Apiril, and leaving us 

 in the autumn. It is common in most of the wooded counties of 

 England, except the extreme west and north, but attracts little 

 notice, being unostentatious in size and colour, while its song, except 

 by the practised ear, is likely to be lost in the general melody of the 

 woods. Yarrell's succinct account of its most characteristic habit 

 is so comprehensive and accurate, that the observer who wishes to 

 make its acquaintance can scarcely fail b}' its help to identify the bird 

 on its \'ery first occurrence. ' The male has a pretty song, perhaps 

 more attractive from the manner in which it is given, than the 

 quality of the song itself. He generally sings while perched on the 



