158 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



ANTHUS TRIYIALIS (Linnisus). 



TREE-PIPIT. 



Alauda trivialis, Liim. Syst. Nat. i, p. 288 (1766). 



Anthus trivialis, Fleming, Brit. Anim. p. 75 (1828) ; SJiarjie, Cat. Birds 



Brit. Mus. X, p. 543 ; Whitaker, Ibis, 1896, p. 96 ; Erlanger, J. f. 0. 



1899, p. 316. 

 Anthus arboreus, Malhcrbe, Cat. Eais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 11 (1846) ; Koenig, 



J.f. 0. 1888, p. 216; id. J.f. 0. 1893, p. 30. ' 

 Dendronanthus arboreus, Lochc, Exjd. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 11 (1867). 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Gafsa, South Tunisia. 



Above olive-brown, the feathers with dark centres and jjale margins ; 

 vpings dark brown, the secondaries and coverts broadly margined with buff 

 outer pair of rectrices white on the terminal half of tiie inner web and the 

 greater part of outer web, the remaining part dark brown, the adjoining 

 pair tipped with white on the inner webs ; rest of tail-feathers dark brown ; 

 superciliaries yellowish-buff; chin whitish ; throat and breast yellowish- 

 buff, becoming whitish on the abdomen and crissum ; sides of the neck, 

 breast and flanks spotted with longitudinal dark brown markings ; hind-claw 

 short and curved. 



Iris very dark brown ; bill light brown ; feet flesh-colour. 



Total length 6 inches, wing 3'50, culmen -60, tarsus •90, hind claw -25. 



Adult female very similar to the male. 



The Tree-Pipit is common in Tunisia during both the spring and 

 autumn periods of migration, and a certain number of individuals 

 remain in the Eegency throughout the winter, but I have no know- 

 ledge of its breeding in this country, or, indeed, in any part of North- 

 west Africa. I have .specimens of it from Marocco, but all obtained 

 during the winter or early spring. 



During the months of March and April I have found the Tree- 

 Pipit very abundant in all orchards and olive-groves, both north and 

 south of the Atlas. It is a tame, confiding bird, and when disturbed 

 on the ground flies quietly up into the nearest tree, remaining there 

 till the intruder has passed on, when it again descends. Although a 

 tree-haunting species, it is perhaps as often to be found on the 

 ground, and its food is mostly obtained there. It lives chiefly upon 

 worms and insects, but also eats seeds and other vegetable matter. 

 The song of this Pipit is rather powerful and far superior to that of 

 other members of the family. It has even been likened to that of the 

 Canary. 



