I 14 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



gives one this impression. At the same time, I am not 

 aware that the bird is at all more delicate than his 

 congeners, and he manages to live and thrive in winters 

 that kill off Blackbirds and Thrushes by hundreds. 



A favourite resting-place of our little friend is the top 

 rail in some field near the sea, or the telegraph wire, 

 from which he starts off ever and anon to sing his simple 

 and yet pleasing melody. The Meadow Pipit rises 

 only a short distance, probably not more than fifty feet, 

 from the ground, uttering, as he does so, a low "trit, 

 trit," or " chit, chit." He pauses for a moment at the 

 highest point of his ascent, and then descends with 

 outstretched wings to the ground or to his former lowly 

 perch. Just as he reaches the ground, he gives utter- 

 ance to a few really melodious notes, which, however, 

 can generally be but imperfectly heard. The bird is 

 probably not more than one minute in the air ; but, 

 with very short intervals, the ascents are repeated over 

 and over again in fine weather. 



The female sings, Mr. Kinahan tells us. 



The food of this harmless little bird consists of 

 insects and larvae, and in winter he frequents manure- 

 heaps and stack-yards to seek them. There the 

 Meadow Pipit may be always distinguished from the 

 pert Sparrows, hopping confidently along, by its humbler 

 running gait. 



The nest of the Meadow Pipit is always on the 

 ground, and generally consists of dry grasses ; some- 

 times it is found in a tuft of reeds, surrounded by water, 

 and there the eggs, usually from four to six in number, 

 of a light reddish-brown colour, mottled with darker 

 brown, are laid. Two broods are probably produced 



