MEADOW-PIPIT. 227 



izing with surrounding tints. In the autumn by far the greater number 

 of Meadow-Pipits frequent the turnip-fields, where, with feeble call-notes, 

 they alight on the broad leaves in search of grubs and insects. When dis- 

 turbed, as, for instance, by the report of a gun, the whole flock will rise 

 into the air and flutter here and there in a very uncertain way, the wind 

 often beating them about like leaves. They soon settle again into the 

 cover, flying down two or three at a time. When thus disturbed they are 

 never seen to alight in trees ; they keep fluttering about in the air, flying 

 hither and thither until they alight again on the ground. The Meadow- 

 Pipit is a very active little bird, and runs about almost as quickly and 

 gracefully as a Wagtail, and repeatedly jerks its tail like those birds. It 

 is by no means shy, yet if repeatedly disturbed will either skulk amongst 

 the herbage or flit rapidly away long before you are within gunshot. 

 Sometimes in winter the Meadow- Pipits are very hard pressed for food. 

 When the ground is covered deep in snow they repair to the manure-heaps, 

 kept free from snow by the heat of the manure, to catch the small flies 

 and worms and beetles. This bird when in a helpless state will often try 

 to hide itself. I have seen one when wounded bury itself for some con- 

 siderable distance in a snow-drift, and then remain motionless, allowing 

 itself to be taken in the hand without the least movement. It is only in 

 autumn that the Meadow-Pipit is gregarious to any great extent, the flocks 

 at that season often being of immense size. In winter rarely more than 

 half a dozen birds flock together ; but in the spring the bird again becomes 

 to a certain extent gregarious, and may then be seen in company with the 

 spring flights of Wagtails." 



The food of the Meadow-Pipit is largely composed of insects, larvae, 

 small worms, and freshwater shells. It may often be seen catching sand- 

 flies on the coast, and repeatedly sallies into the air like a Flycatcher to 

 chase an insect on the wing. In winter it varies this fare with little seeds, 

 and has been known to feed on grain ; but at all seasons an insect diet is 

 undoubtedly preferred, for when the weather is severe, and insects are 

 scarce, almost every little swampy place in its haunts will be searched for 

 food, and it then frequents the sides of running streams and manure-heaps. 

 and often comes to sheepfolds and farmyards to seek for insects. 



In autumn vast numbers of Meadow-Pipits pass along our eastern and 

 southern coasts, evidently on their migration southwards. During Sep- 

 tember and October countless numbers frequent the Sussex coasts previous 

 to their departure for the continent, generally moving from west to east, 

 About the middle of March the return flights are noticed, not so large as 

 the autumn ones, for the perils of migration cause many of the birds to 

 perish. There can be little doubt that numbers of Meadow-Pipits leave 

 this country in autumn and return in spring, but many may possibly be 

 birds passing our coasts on their way south from Northern Europe. Mr. 



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