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RICHARD S PIPET. 



KICHARD'S PIPET (Anthus Ricardi). But little is 

 known of the habits of this species, which is rare in Great 

 Britain, only a few specimens having been met with here ; 

 it has a long hind claw, and an olive brown plumage on 

 the upper parts, and dull white on the under ; the breast 

 and sides being tinged with reddish yellow, and marked 

 with oblong dusky spots. The form is slender and graceful, 

 approaching very near to that of the Wagtails ; it is a rare 

 bird on the Continent, and but little is known of its habits. 

 It is said to keep very much on the ground, where it runs 

 with great swiftness and facility, waving its tail up and 

 down with a gentle, easy motion ; it emits a loud shrill 

 note while flying, feeds chiefly on insects, and lays reddish 

 white eggs, speckled with light brown or red: 



RICHARD S PIPET. 



Gould, in his * Birds of Europe,' mentions but two instances 

 that had occurred of the capture of the bird in this country ; 

 we can add a third : one was shot about six or seven years 

 since, in Kent, by Mr. Mummery of Margate, in the museum 

 of which town the specimen is preserved, 



