194 The Tree-Pipit. 



Dublin, and Mr. H. C. Hart states that he found a nest thirteen years previously 

 in the same county.* 



The upper surface of this species in breeding plumage is clear sand3'-brown, 

 with dark centres to the feathers, less prominent on the rump ; wings dark-brown, 

 the coverts and secondaries with paler margins ; tail for the most part dark-brown, 

 but the outermost feathers white, with a brown stripe on the inner web, and the 

 next feather on each side broadly tipped with white ; a buff superciliary stripe ; 

 chin and belly whitish, remainder of under surface buff; a dark streak from the 

 base of the bill to the sides of the neck, where there are other dark-brown streaks 

 and spots, as also at the sides of the breast and flanks : bill brown, the base of 

 lower mandible paler; feet flesh-colour; iris hazel. The female is slightly smaller, 

 and has less defined breast spots than the male. After the autumn moult the buff 

 of the under surface is more pronounced. Birds of the year are more spotted on 

 the breast and flanks, but these markings are smaller than in adult birds. 



The shorter and more curved hind claw, larger size, somewhat longer tail, 

 warmer colouring, and paler legs, distinguish this bird from the Meadow-Pipit. 



This species usually makes its appearance in England early in April, though 

 sometimes not before the third week, and in the south of Scotland early in May : 

 its favourite haunts are pastures on the outskirts of plantations, shrubberies inter- 

 spersed with large trees, or woods ; also large gardens, parks, tall hedgerows, but 

 more especially uneven hedges, with here and there a tall tree : here one can best 

 observe its curious caricature of the Sky-Lark's upward flight, rising perpendicularly 

 for a short distance and thence, with expanded wings and tails, dropping spirally, 

 singing the while. 



In his "Evolution of Bird-song," p. ii8, the late Mr. Charles A. Witchell thus 

 renders the song of the Tree-Pipit : — " CJiec cliee chce clue ecchaiv cccliaw ivhee whce ivhce 

 whce ivhec whee : or eechaiu ecchaiv chce chee chee cliee judo^e judge jiic^ge judge ivhee whee tvhee 

 whee, and so on." On p. 119 also, he mentions that the final notes of its early 

 spring song and those of the Sky-Lark are alike, and "consist of a somewhat plain- 

 tive, prolonged, and repeated whistle, descending in pitch during its utterance." 

 The late Mr. Witchell had not only studied the songs of our birds very carefully 

 for some time, but had a musical education, which specially fitted him for his 

 task ; therefore I consider it far better to quote his version of a song, written down 

 whilst the bird was singing, than to trust my own memory of it.f 



As its name implies, this species frequently perches on trees, but it always 



* cf Seebohm's British Binls, Vol. II, p. 219 



t The call-uote is said to resemble that of the Greeuluieh, aud the alarm-uote to be a sharp tick, tick, 

 frecjueutly repeated. 



