162 



PERCHING BIRDS. 



CHAPTER VI. 



The PIPITS. The Meadow, the Tree, and the Rock Pipit 

 The CHATS. The Stone-chat Its haunts the moor and 

 the furze Pleasing description of this little bird by Mr. 

 Mudic The Whin-chat The Wheatear A common 

 British bird Superstitious dislike to it in the North 

 Esteemed as a bonne-bouche, in the South The TITS 

 A numerous and diminutive race The Tom-tit The 

 Long-tailed Tit Description of its nest The Blue Tit 

 A courageous little bird Curious in its choice of nesting 

 places Anecdote of a tame titmouse. 



THE PIPITS partake in some degree of the character 

 of the insect-eating birds, and partly of that of the 

 lark. They are short- winged, and have feet well 

 adapted for running. They nestle on the ground, 

 and sometimes use hair for the lining of their nests, 

 which is seldom or never done by the larks, with 

 which they have been confounded. There are 

 three regular British species, the meadow, the tree, 

 and the rock pipit ; and one accidental, Richard's 

 pipit. 



Of these the MEADOW PIPIT is very abundant, 

 being freely distributed over the -meadow grounds 

 in summer, and the uplands in winter, at which 

 latter season it is found among sheep which are 

 folded on turnips. It is resident throughout the 



