MEADOW PIPIT. 113 



Its congener, the Wall Creeper of the Alps, is the 

 most beautiful bird I have ever seen. 



The nest of the Tree Creeper is usually placed in a 

 hole in a tree, frequently in a willow. Eggs, white, 

 with reddish spots. 



MEADOW PIPIT. 



Anthus pratensis ; Pipit farlouse ; Pieplerche. 

 Titlark ; Moss Cheeper ; Meadow Lark. 



Bill, dark brown ; legs, toes, and claws, light brown ; 

 hind-claw as long or longer than the toe ; head, neck, 

 back, and wings, dark brown ; breast, whitish, spotted 

 with dark brown ; outer tail-feather on each side, 

 white. Length, about six inches. 



The sea-shore and the mountain-side are the favourite 

 resorts of this well-known and widely distributed 

 species. In winter, however, it seems common every- 

 where : by the road-side, along the river mud, and on 

 the quays, this unassuming and apparently weakly bird 

 finds abundant sustenance. In Scotland it is the only 

 bird seen about the lofty summit of Ben Lomond and 

 other high mountains ; and I have myself often observed 

 it near the summit of Snowdon. 



Two things cause this bird to appear somewhat 

 weakly to us its call-note and its flight. The former 

 sounds somewhat like " peep, peep " hence probably 

 the bird's name and its flight is of a peculiarly jerky 

 and wavering, I had almost said hesitating, character. 

 A little flock of Pipits, flitting feebly head to wind, and 

 apparently undecided where to fly or to alight, alway 



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