THE TREE PIPIT OR TITLARK 69 



some resemblance to the hinder claw of the true (Conirostml) Larks. 

 The general colour tends towards brown or grey, spotted with darker 

 tints. 



The Tree Pipit arrives in this country in the spring and takes 

 its departure in the autumn. It frequents woods and coppices, 



FIG. 45. THE TREE PIPIT OR TITLARK AND YOUNG. 



building a nest on the ground, generally concealed by a tuft of grass ; 

 the eggs, usually five or six, are light brown in colour, spotted with 

 a darker tint. The young are chiefly fed with caterpillars, and the 

 general food of the adult and fledged birds consists of worms, slugs, 

 and insects, which they chase with much activity after the manner 

 of wagtails, even vibrating their tails like them. The length of the 

 bird is about 6 in. 



The SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa grisola or atricapilla) , 

 Fig. 46, belongs to the family Muscicapidse (Flycatcher kind) and 

 sub-family Muscicapinae, arrives in England during May, rarely in 

 April, and is fairly common in England and some parts of Ireland, 

 but not so frequently seen in Scotland. It frequents gardens, 

 orchards, plantations and woods, and the banks of streams, where it 

 may be seen either taking a short flight in search of insects, or 

 perched on a rail, gate, bridge, or branch, making frequent swoops 

 at passing flies, and returning to its vantage place. At times it 

 half jumps, half flutters, from its perch, and seizes flies, gnats and 

 other insects within easy reach, taking most kinds, including aphides, 

 beetles, butterflies, moths, and sawflies. 



The Spotted Flycatcher is about 5^ in. in length, chestnut- 

 brown on the head and back, wings and tail darker brown, breast 



