242 MOTACILLID^ ANTHUS 



Genus II. ANTHUS. 



Type. 

 Anthus, Bechst. Nat. Deuts. iii, p. 704 (1807) A. trivialis. 



Bill straight, slender, compressed towards the point, the culmen 

 swollen between the centre and tip ; nostrils basal, lateral, in a 

 short broad groove, and partly covered with membrane. Wing 

 with nine primaries. Tarsus elongated, scutellated anteriorly, 

 covered with two entire longitudinal plates posteriorly. Tail of 

 twelve feathers, emarginated and shorter than the wing. Plumage 

 above mottled. Sexes always alike. Young much spotted below, 

 more so than the adults. A complete autumn and partial spring 

 moult in some species, two complete annual moults in others. 



Anthus arboreus. 



About thirty species of Pipits have been described from all parts 

 of the globe. One half the number are found in Africa, and nine 

 species and subspecies occur to the south of the Zambesi and 

 Cunene Eivers, one being an annual migrant from Europe. 



Pipits are birds of, usually, unassuming brown plumage, and 

 Lark-like demeanour and habits. The majority of the species 

 frequent the ground in search of insects and small seeds, some, 



