MEADOW PIPIT. 133 



Humber estuaries particularly, the sand-hills, marshes, and 

 fields are absolutely swarming with the light clean- coloured 

 immigrants. An enormous influx took place at the Tees- 

 mouth during the third week in March 1903, when I noted 

 many crossing at Redcar, against a strong north-west gale, 

 and apparently completely exhausted with their long journey. 

 In the autumn immense flocks pass south from August to 

 mid-October, our departing home-bred birds being augmented 

 in numbers by individuals from higher latitudes. At the 

 Tees and Humber there is frequently a great arrival of these 

 Pipits coming in direct from seaward, the majority of which 

 move on after a short stay. The British Association Migration 

 Reports contain many entries, too voluminous for recapitula- 

 tion, concerning this species, quantities of which are immolated 

 against the lanterns of the coast beacons during the night 

 in both spring and autumn. 



In Yorkshire the nest of the Meadow Pipit is most 

 frequently chosen by the Cuckoo for the deposition of its 

 parasitic egg. A late date for nidification was noted at the 

 Teesmouth in 1902, when a nest with newly hatched young 

 was discovered on the 3rd of August. 



White varieties are mentioned by Ray's correspondent 

 so long ago as 1678 (see above), and a pied specimen is 

 recorded at Dalton, near Huddersfield (S. L. Mosley MS.). 



Local names : Titlark is in general use throughout the 

 county ; terms of more restricted use are Chit Lark at 

 Skelmanthorpe ; Ground Lark at Loftus-in-Cleveland ; Ling 

 Bird at Sedbergh ; Ditch Lark near Skipton, where the eggs 

 are reddish coloured ; Ground Laverick in Upper Teesdale ; 

 Ling Tit and Titling in Nidderdale ; Titty at the Teesmouth ; 

 Bank Lark in Cleveland ; Heather Lintie in the North 

 Riding ; and Moor Tit in the Wilsden district. 



