BRITISH BIUDtf NEST8. 199 



by protection. It is thought that the bird was 

 first introduced by the Romans and brought from 

 the neighbourhood of the Black Sea. Notes : crow 

 of male, a short, loud cackle, and the note of the 

 female, a shrill, piping whistle. Local and other 

 names, none. Sits close and, curiously enough, 

 emits no scent at this period. In a wild state 

 the bird is monogamous, but in this country, in 

 its semi-domesticated condition, it is polygamous. 



PINTAIL DUCK. See DUCK, PINTAIL. 



PIPIT, MEADOW. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about six 

 inches. Bill of medium length, slender, straight, 

 and dark brown, except at the base of the under- 

 maiidible, where it is of a lighter tint. Irides 

 hazel. Crown, nape, back, and upper tail-coverts 

 dark brown, the border of each feather being of 

 a lighter greyish tint. Wings brownish-black, the 

 feathers being edged with light brown ; tail dark 

 brown, the two outer feathers on either side mar- 

 gined with white, the rest with light brown; chin 

 and throat dull white ; sides of neck and breast 

 pale buffish- white or yellowish-brown, with numerous 

 elongated dusky spots ; belly and under tail-coverts 

 dull white, tinged with brown. Legs and toes light 

 brown ; claws dusky, hind one long and curved. 



The female is said to be slightly smaller, though 

 the difference is not at all apparent ; her plumage 

 is similar. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground in the 

 shelter of a tuft of grass, heather, bit of overhanging 



