42 THE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 



brown legs, and with its dusky brown claws takes a firm grasp of the 

 bough, often the upper one of an elm tree, on which it loves to sit 

 for awhile and join the general chorus of gladness which the sweet 

 spring calls forth from a thousand feathered throats. 



Selby finds some points of resemblance between the notes of this 

 bird and those of the Meadow Pipit, and certainly there is some 

 similarity; but a practised ear can easily detect the difference, the 

 former having more melody, and variety, and duration, the latter 

 more character and spirit. 



It has been remarked that the Tree Pipit builds much nearer to 

 houses than the Meadow Pipit, for which it is often mistaken, although 

 a practised eye can easily distinguish one from the other; the latter 

 is a much more common bird than the former, which is very jealous 

 of any liberties which may be taken with its nest, sometimes deserting 

 it if only one or two eggs are taken, even if their place is supplied 

 by those of another species which closely resemble them. Although, 

 however, so shy and wary, an instance is related of the bird's building 

 its nest in a walk attached to the Pump Room at Leamington, which 

 was much frequented by visitors, but so well was it hidden that " but 

 for the indefatigable ardour with which the male bird pursued his 

 manual labour near the spot, the observant ornithologist would never 

 have suspected its presence." Having made the discovery he watched 

 the proceedings of the happy pair, and noticed that the singer sometimes 

 took his turn on the nest for about an hour, and while there he was 

 more coy and jealous of approach than the female, betaking himself 

 to hasty flight if only looked at, while the hen was more fearless and 

 judicious, creeping silently out if disturbed, and going some distance 

 from the nest before she spread her wings, so as not to indicate the 

 precise spot where her treasures lay hidden. Here was displayed, as 

 it often is in birds and other creatures, the motherly instinct approaching 

 very near to reason. 



All throughout the European continent is the Tree Pipit found, 

 although sparingly in the colder parts; it is plentiful in France and 

 Italy. In Japan and some other parts of Asia it is known to be, and 

 in Africa, where, like many of our summer migrants, it probably passes 

 the winter. In our western counties, and in Wales, it is a very rare 

 bird. No record exists of its having been seen in Ireland that we are 

 aware of. It occasionally visits the Orkney and other Scottish islands. 



