AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 1G3 



70. RICHARD'S PIPIT. 



Anthus richardl. 



Mr. William Seal, an experienced bird-catcher, has 

 repeatedly, and very recently (October 1894), assured 

 me that he clearly identified two of this species near 

 Thorpe Waterville whilst plying his business there on 

 October 26, 1883. Seal is perfectly well acquainted 

 with this Pipit, of which he has captured more than 

 one in his nets, and is quite positive from the note 

 and flight of these two birds that he could not be 

 mistaken. / am convinced of his bona fides, but think 

 it possible that he may have been deceived by the 

 appearance of the Tawny Pipit (Anthus campesiris), 

 with which he is not acquainted. I have no personal 

 acquaintance with Richard's Pipit in life, but have 

 very frequently met with the Tawny Pipit in Spain. 

 Both of these species are accidental and uncommon 

 stragglers to this country, and, roughly speaking, much 

 resemble each other, though Richard's Pipit is con- 

 siderably the larger of the two. 



71. SKY-LARK. 



Alauda arvensis. 



A detailed account of this well-known bird, its song 

 and habits, would, I think, be entirely unnecessary 

 here, as there is probably not one of my readers who 

 is not already acquainted with them. I find that 

 with us the numbers of this bird are, and for some 

 years past have been, perceptibly decreasing, and 

 though in the winter months, especially after the 

 break-up of a long and severe frost, vast flocks may 



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