WAGTAILS AND PIPITS 



1609 



entice the intruder from the nest with anxious cries. If their little manoeuvres are 

 successful, the female drops to the ground and runs back to the nest through the 

 grass. In this district the nest of Richard's pipit is the one usually selected by 

 the cuckoo in which to deposit her eggs. They leave for their winter quarters 

 late in September." The eggs vary in number, from four to six; some are pro- 

 fusely spotted all over with minute specks and blotches of greenish brown upon a 



RICHARD'S PIPIT, WATER PIPIT, AND TAWNY PIPIT. 

 (Two-thirds natural size.) 



pale greenish-white ground color, while in others the spots are reddish brown upon 

 a pinkish-white ground color. The adult male has the upper parts nearly uniform 

 brown, beneath buffish white darkest on the breast which is streaked with dark 

 brown. The sexes are identical. Richard's pipit may always be known by the 

 long metatarsus and greatly-developed claw of the first toe. A figure of this bird, 

 as well as of the tawny pipit, is given in the cut on this page. 



