The Meadow Pipit 



the south-wester blows up the clouds and sweeps the rain 

 across the desolate meadows, they seem equally happy and 

 at home, and rising at one's feet from the shelter of a 

 tussock fly off to another shelter, their " peet, peet " adding a 

 harmonious touch of life to the discordant elements. In 

 spring our summer visitors return, and then we may watch 

 him as, full of energy, he rises some distance into the air 

 and gradually descends with fluttering wings and outspread 

 tail, singing his somewhat feeble song. 



The adult is olive brown above, each feather having a 

 darker centre, except on the rump and upper tail coverts ; 

 wing coverts margined with white ; there is a narrow white 

 eye stripe. Under parts buffish white streaked with brown 

 on the throat, breast, and flanks. In autumn both old and 

 young are much more buff coloured. The sexes are alike 

 Length 5 '7 5 in. ; wing 3'1 in. 



THE RED-THROATED PIPIT 



Anthus cervinus (Pallas) 



Less than half-a-dozen individuals of this species, which 

 breed in the far north of Europe and Asia, and winter in 

 tropical Africa, have visited us, and with one exception they 

 have all been taken on the shores of Kent or Sussex. 



It closely resembles the Meadow Pipit, but in the 

 breeding season the sides of the neck and breast in both 

 sexes are vinous chestnut. All our examples, however, have 

 been immature birds, which are extremely difficult to 

 distinguish from our common species. 



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