206 TREE PIPIT. 



last, never remaining with us during the winter 

 It arrives in its spring migration sometime during 

 May, according to the locality, and retires again 

 towards the end of September guided by the 

 same influences, appearing thus considerably 

 earlier in the south of England than what it does 

 in the middle and northern parts of Scotland. 

 It is not an unfrequent species, but is much less 

 common than the last ; and even in those districts 

 where its abundance is greatest, the numbers 

 are comparatively small. It frequents partially 

 wooded lands, and the borders of woods and 

 copses, and is soon discovered by the practice of 

 its song, and of the flight common to the group. 

 The first is always heard with delight by the 

 ornithologist, and can scarcely remain unnoticed 

 by any lover of the country or observer of the 

 habits of its creatures ; but though the most 

 varied in its compass of those of its British 

 allies, it still contains only a few notes, and it is 

 somewhat indebted to the conspicuous manner in 

 which it is uttered, and the generally pleasing 

 character of its favourite localities, for the interest 

 it excites in its hearers. In flight it rises in the 

 air, uttering a single tremulous note, and having 

 attained its elevation, again singing, it slowly 

 descends with motionless wing, and perches on 

 some neighbouring tree. The nest is placed under 

 a bank, at the root of a tree or bush, and is care- 

 fully constructed in the inside. The eggs are 

 subject to great variety, varying in ground 

 colour from grayish brown to brownish purple, 



