NATURE'S CAROL SINGERS. 



wonderful provision of Nature. The first- 

 named bird is wholly migratory, and 

 perches on trees, hence the short curved 

 claw must render it very useful for grasp- 

 ing branches ; the second is only partially 

 migratory, great numbers staying in this 

 country throughout the year, and its long 

 hind claw must prove very advantage- 

 ous as a snowshoe during the winter. 



As its name implies, the species under 

 notice frequents parts of the country 

 where trees grow, preferably in clumps 

 with grassy glades between. 



The male Tree Pipit is a very sweet 

 singer, and makes his music more attrac- 

 tive by the manner in which he delivers 

 it. He alights generally on the top- 

 most branch of some favourite tree, from 

 which elevation he mounts the air to 

 varying heights of from twenty to sixty 

 or seventy feet by a series of rapid wing 

 beats, commences to utter his song with 

 a chee, chee, chee, chee, when he has 

 reached a sufficient altitude for his pur- 

 pose, and delivers it whilst he is gliding 

 down slowly in a kind of half -circle 

 through the air with outstretched wings, 

 expanded tail, and dangling legs. 



When in full song this bird is a most 

 energetic vocalist. I timed one upon 

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