66 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



The females of both species most resemble each 

 other. The measurements of each scarcely differ. 



Eay's Wagtail, Motacilla campestris. A regular 

 summer visitant, remaining with us from April to 

 September. But although it passes the breeding 

 season here, the eggs are seldom obtained, for the 

 nest is always very carefully concealed. It is very 

 compact in form, and is usually placed in a hole in 

 the ground (oftentimes the depression made by a 

 horse's hoof), surrounded with tall herbage. 



Family ANTHiDiE. 



Tree Pipit, Antlius arhoreus. The Pipits hold 

 an intermediate place between the Wagtails and 

 Larks, having the slender bill of the former, and 

 (with one exception) the long hind claw of the 

 latter. 



Few lovers of Nature, while walking through 

 countr}^ lanes and fields in Ma}^, can have failed to 

 observe a small brown bird, perched on the topmost 

 twig of an oak. Rising ten or twelve feet into the 

 air with joyous song, it hovers for a few seconds 

 over the tree, singing the while, and then with 

 wings expanded and almost meeting over its back, 

 and legs hanging straight, it drops perpendicularly 

 upon the twig from which it rose. A few seconds' 

 rest, and the song and flight are repeated, often many 

 times from the same branch. This is the Tree Pipit. 



