THE TAWNY PIPIT. 147 



"The soil of the Sahara," says Mr. J. H. 

 Gurney, jun. (" Ibis," 1871, p. 85), " is in some 

 places soft and sandy, in others hard and pebbly. 

 The Tawny Pipit affects the former, where 

 there is little or no herbage. Its flight is undu- 

 lating, like that of the Wagtails ; and, like the 

 latter, it twitters on the wing." Canon Tristram, 

 referring to the habits of this species in Pales- 

 tine, where he obtained several nests on the 

 bare hills, says ("Ibis," 1866, p. 289), "It is 

 one of the tamest of birds, and particularly 

 affects the mule paths, flitting along in front of 

 the traveller, and keeping unconcernedly a few 

 yards ahead." " The nest," says Mr. Salvin, " is 

 composed of roots, with a lining of horsehair, 

 and is placed on the lee side of a bush. The 

 eggs vary very much, some being light-coloured, 

 and almost like wagtails', while others are much 

 darker and more profusely marked." 



Although, as above stated, North Africa and 

 Palestine may be regarded as its home, the 

 Tawny Pipit ranges a long way to the north 

 and south of this tract, and is common in some 



