The Pipits. 153 



The young student of birds may do well to 

 concentrate his attention for awhile on the Pipits, 

 and on their near relations, the Larks and the 

 Wagtails. These three seemed to form a clearly- 

 defined group ; and though in the latest scientific 

 classification the Larks have been removed to 

 some distance from the other two (which form 

 a single family of Motacillidae], it must be borne 

 in mind that this is in consequence only of a 

 single though remarkable point of difference. 

 Apart from definite structural characters, a very 

 little observation will show that their habits are 

 in most respects alike. They all place their nests 

 on the ground ; and they all walk, instead of 

 hopping ; the Larks and the Pipits sing in the 

 air, while the Pipits and the Wagtails move their 

 tails up and down in a peculiar manner. All are 

 earth-loving birds, except the Tree-pipit and the 

 Wbodlark. 



We may now leave the railway, and enter the 

 woodland. Most of the birds that dwell here 

 have been already mentioned ; and I shall only 

 mention in passing the Jays, the Magpies, and 

 the Crows, those mischievous and predatory birds, 



