( tse +) 
air, caused by a false alarm given by an over jealous sentinel, leaving 
a score or two of old birds studiously pecking among the leaves, who 
merely lift their heads as much as to say, “what on earth, has scared 
you, next!” Viridis is 64 inches in length; bill and legs black; irides 
dusky brown. Colour of these field-wagtails changes a good deal, 
according to the season. Winter plumage, when one is more likely 
to see it, is olive green, above, with a white streak behind the eye 
(supercilium ;) wings dusky, with two yellowish white cross bands, 
formed by whitish tips of the coverts ; tail black, margined greenish, 
two outer feathers are white ; beneath, chin and throat are whitish, 
remaining portions are yellow. These are about all the leading col- 
ours or markings to be looked for, whilst the bird is about pecking 
on the ground, among autumn leaves, which lie thick about the place. 
They usually vibrate their tails, as they advance, up hill, as a_ rule, 
at times followed by a short run. 
TREE PIPITS 
GerNus PipastEs. . These birds have their lower plumage much 
spotted ; bill short and stout ; tarsus short ; unlike Budytes, Pipits, 
when disturbed, soon take to the perch on a bush or tree close by, 
with considerable ease. They are readily made out on alighting or 
running along lateral branch of a tree by the up and down vibration 
of the tail. All species of Pipastes visit, or rather break journey in 
Darjeeling on their way up to higher altitudes on the Singalillas and 
North Sikkim, even ascending some of the lofty passes into Thibet. 
These birds are, a little difficult at times to separate from different 
species, when found in mixed flocks containing larks and finches. 
(596) Pieastes Aciiis, Indian Tree Pipit, can be made out 
without much difficulty when seen singly, by its large black spots 
on the throat, breast and flanks, together with fine greenish olive 
upper plumage, and also well marked dusky streaks on the crown ; 
beneath, the body is white, with a fulvous tinge, which is scarcely 
noticeable, when observing this bird from a distance ; dark brown 
wing coverts are more perceptable, and outer tail feathers which are 
broadly tipped with white. These birds spread themselves over’ 
the plains of India in winter. They are social and gregarious, pick- 
ing about in flocks in the fields, gardens and hedgerows where they 
settle down, for short foraging excursions. They destroy large 
quantities of noxious insects, myriads of mosquitoes on the wing, 
and ferreting them out of their lurking places, hence its Indian name 
““musarichi.” Pipits also introduce us to hard billed birds, which 
feed much on dry grains. Agilis is 64 inches in size ; exteut of wing 
11 inches; bill and legs are light-brown. This Pipit is not unlike 
the European species. — ] 
