i6o6 



THE PERCHING BIRDS 



insects, which it takes both upon the ground and on the wing. The adult male has 

 the head and hind-neck ashy gray; the eye stripe, cheeks, and throat white; the 

 upper parts brown, washed with olive; the tail feathers blackish brown, with the 

 exception of the outer feathers which are chiefly white; a black crescentic band 

 crosses the neck; the breast and under parts are yellowish white; and the sides of 

 the body brown. 



YELLOW-HEADED WAGTAIL, BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL, AND MEADOW PIPIT. 



(One-half natural size.) 



The pipits of the genus Anthus form a large group of plain-colored 

 birds, characterized by the possession of a slender bill very slightly- 

 notched at the tip. The legs are proportionately slender and generally adapted for 

 terrestrial progression; the wings are moderate in length, but the tail is compara- 

 tively short, and often slightly forked. Unlike the larks, the pipits have the nos- 



