166 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



and grass-fields during the spring months. How 

 brilliant are the colours of the male, in his nuptial 

 dress, as he picks his way amongst a profusion of 

 buttercups, assimilating so closely with his own tints, 

 that his actions only betray his whereabouts. In 

 busy little flocks upon their first arrival, we find 

 them on the Denes and grassy slopes by the sea-shore, 

 graceful in every movement as they run or flit from one 

 spot to another, enjoying alike the warmth of the sun 

 and the myriads of insects which it calls into being. In 

 autumn again, in little family groups, the young, in 

 their more sombre tints, resembling the females, are 

 learning for themselves the art of fly-catching, and, till 

 instinct warns them of the coming winter, each day 

 finds them busily employed amongst the cattle in our 

 fields and pastures. Though not so constantly seen in 

 the vicinity of water as some other species, this wagtail 

 frequents the margins of rivers and streams, and the 

 marshy grounds adjacent, as well as open downs and 

 furzy commons, with arable land and sheep walks. 



ANTHTJS ARBOREUS, Bechst. 

 TREE PIPIT. 



This species, at once distinguished from the meadow 

 pipit by its short hind claw, is found pretty generally 

 distributed in summer, arriving about the middle of 

 April ; and having nested here, leaves us again in the 

 autumn. Amongst the many sweet sounds of the early 

 summer, the notes of this bird may be heard from 

 the trees in our hedgerows, most frequently from 

 the upper branches of a lofty elm as it sings with 

 all the fervour of the nuptial season; and springing 

 tip into the air in its extacy, it trills forth its 



