42 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



opposite of my own conclusions; but it is not at all 

 improbable that we may, both of us, be equally right, 

 and that these birds resort to both situations, namely 

 the ground and the tree tops according to circumstances, 

 to the latter in the summer-time, and to the former 

 when the trees have been divested of their leafy coverings 

 by the icy hand of winter and the aphis has, at least 

 temporarily, disappeared. 



I am more in accord with the author of "A History 

 of British Birds" when he describes the song of the 

 Tree Pipit as pretty and tremulous, and says that its 

 voice is low and sweet, as it is emitted from the branch 

 of a tree, and occasionally from the ground. 



As to the nest, however, I quite agree with him when 

 he says it is always placed in the latter situation, and 

 is a somewhat inartistic and decidedly unpretentious 

 affair, consisting for the most part of a few dried blades 

 of grass, some small roots, and perhaps a little hair, 

 gathered together, artlessly, into a natural depression 

 of the ground at or near the root of a tree or under 

 the shelter of a bush or shrub. Bechstein is of opinion 

 that it may even be placed on the branch of some low 

 bush, but I have never chanced to meet with one in 

 such a position. 



The eggs vary considerably in appearance, but bear 

 a general resemblance to those that are deposited by 

 other members of the Lark Family; some are dull 

 bluish-white, spotted with purple-brown, while others 



