RICHARD'S PIPIT. 173 



secondaries, upper tail-coverts and central tail-feathers browTi-black 

 evenly margined pale buff to buffish-white ; vinder-parts buffish- 

 white (whiter than adults), usually more streaked on upper-breast 

 and sides of throat than adult ; flanks buff, hghtly streaked dark 

 brown ; rest of tail and wings like adults. N.B. — The pale margins 

 of the feathers of the upper-parts give the juvenile the appearance 

 of a juvenile Lark. 



First winter (Plate 6). — Like adults but with many pale- 

 margined juvenile feathers, esjjecially ■vving-coverts and innermost 

 secondaries. The juvenile body-feathers and a few wing-coverts 

 are usually moulted in Aug. -Nov., but not rest of wings or tail. 

 Frequently some jiavenile body-feathers are retamed until spring 

 moult. Summer. — Like adults, the moult being rather more 

 complete and the remaining juvenile wing-coverts, innermost 

 secondaries and central tail-feathers being apparently always 

 moulted but not primary-coverts nor rest of wing- and tail-feathers. 



Measurements and structure. — (^ wing 92-97 nim., tail 72-78, 

 tarsus 31-32, bill from skull 15-16, hind claw 13-20, considerably 

 longer than hind toe, slightly curved (12 measured). $ wing 85-92. 

 Primaries : 1st minute about half primary-coverts, 2nd to 4th equal 

 and longest, 5th 2-3 mm. shorter, 6th 10-14 shorter ; 3rd to 5th 

 emarginated outer webs. Secondaries between 9th and 6th 

 primaries, tips square, shghtly notched, longest inner secondary in 

 winter usually a little shorter than 5th primary, after spring moult 

 often as long as longest primary. Tail very shghtly forked. Bill 

 fine, wider and flattish base. A few longish rictai bristles, nostrils 

 uncovered. 



Soft parts. — Bill, upper mandible dark brown, lower paler ; legs 

 and feet pale flesh or pale yellowish-brown ; iris dark brown. 



Characters and allied forms. — A. r. striolatus (India) has shorter 

 bill and hind claw. Distinguished from Meadow-, Tree-, and Red 

 throated Pipits by its much larger size and less streaked breast. 

 Somewhat similar to A. c. campestris but tarsus and foot much 

 longer, upper-breast and sides of throat more streaked and upper- 

 parts much less uniform. Juvemle closely resembles juvenile 

 A. c. campestris in coloration, but tarsus, toes and claws are much 

 longer. 



Breeding-habits. — Nests in hoUow on ground in plains, sheltered 

 by tussock of grass. Nest. — Built dead grasses and some moss. 

 Eggs. — 4-6, rather variable, ground ranging from greenish-grej^ 

 to dirty pink, thickly and as a rule uniformly mottled with ohve 

 or reddish-brown spots and grey shell-marks. Average of 24 

 eggs, 21.38 X 16.4 mm. Breeding-season. — From begimiing June 

 to July in Siberia. Incubation. — Period unknown ; hen shot 

 from eggs. Two broods (Dybowski). 



Food. — Worms, orthoptera, and occasionally a butterfly or msect 



