86 THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS. 



tember. A few pairs annually breed by the side of 

 ponds and small streams, but the nest is a hard one 

 to find, being generally well concealed among rushes 

 and long grass. 



Family ANTHID^E. 



TREE PIPIT (Anthus arboreus). A common sum- 

 mer visitor, arriving about the beginning of April, 

 and leaving in September. This species is not nearly 

 so numerous as its congener the Meadow Pipit, and, 

 unlike the latter bird, does not remain in Britain all 

 the year. 



Early in spring one may hear his cheerful song, 

 the bird itself sitting upon the extremity of the 

 branch of some large tree. The nest is placed on 

 the ground, generally artfully concealed under a patch 

 of grass or a low bush ; I have sometimes almost set 

 my foot upon the nest before the old bird attempted 

 to stir. 



This Pipit, as well as the other species, is locally 

 known as the Tit- lark. 



Tribe SCANSORES. Family PlClD^E. 



WRYNECK (Yunx torquilld). This third division 

 of the Insessores comprises the Scansores, or climbers, 

 a tribe of birds remarkable, as the name implies, for 

 their powers of ascending trees, having their toes 

 arranged in pairs, two before and two behind. 



