BIRDS OF THE COMMONS 69 



Language. Song, hurried and impetuous like the 

 Wren's, but feebler. Call-note, a loud " pitchoo " 

 repeated two or three times ; scolding note, a harsh 

 " cha." 



Habits. A most skulking bird, and seldom seen ; 

 extremely restless and full of curious antics, fanning its 

 long tail and perching on the topmost sprays of gorse. 

 Flight fairly rapid and undulating. 



Food. Insects principally, also fruits. 



Nest. April onwards. Two broods. 



Site. Always low down in thick furze-bush, and 

 carefully concealed. 



Materials. Dead pieces of furze and bents inter- 

 twined with moss or wool, lined with finer materials and, 

 perhaps, some horsehair. Cup deep, but flimsily com- 

 pacted. 



Eggs. Four to six. Greenish white, closely speckled 

 with reddish brown and olive. May be confounded with 

 those of the Whitethroat. 



MEADOW PIPIT OR TITLARK 



(Anthus pratensis). 



Common pretty well everywhere, haunting moors, 

 commons, pasture-lands, and the like. 



Plumage. Upper parts ashy olive-brown, each feather 

 having a dark centre. Dull white eye-stripe ; wings 

 darker and primaries edged with yellowish. Tail also 

 darker, with two outer feathers whitish, conspicuous 

 in flight ; under parts buffish white, with many elongated 

 brown markings. Bill dark brown above, paler below. 

 Legs pale brown. Length 5f in. Female less strongly 

 marked below. Young yellower, and under markings 

 darker 



Language. Song delivered when flying, and con- 

 sists of " chu-wick," repeated several times in the ascent, 

 and " see-see," repeated often in the descent. Call-note, 

 " 1st." Alarm-note, " peet." 



