INSESSOEES. 67 



It is an annual summer visitant, arriving in April, and 

 common enough throughout the summer months. 

 It is much prized by birdcatchers for its song, being 

 superior in that respect to the Meadow Pipit or Tit- 

 lark, and may be at once distinguished from that 

 bird by its larger size and short hind claw. 



MEADOW PIPIT, Antltus pratensis. A common 

 species, resident throughout the year. It prefers 

 moist situations, such as water-meadows, brook- 

 sides, and turnip-fields, after rain, where it feeds on 

 small flies and beetles. It may often be observed in 

 company with Wagtails, following cattle and seizing 

 the flies which they disturb with their hoofs. 



ROCK PIPIT, Anthus aquaticus. This species, 

 although common on some parts of the coast, is 

 rarely found inland. 



Mr. Bond killed seven at Kingsbury Eeservoir, in 

 October, 1845 ; and the Hon. F. C. Bridgeman, in a 

 notice of the ' Birds of Harrow,' which has lately 

 appeared in print, says : " A specimen of the Rock 

 Pipit was caught by a birdcatcher here during No- 

 vember, 1862. Being uncertain what kind of Pipit 

 this was, I skinned it, and took some trouble to dis- 

 cover its right name ; it proved to be, without doubt, 

 the Anthus obscurus." On the 20th March, 1866, 

 while walking round the Reservoir at Kingsbury, 

 my attention was attracted by two Pipits, which were 

 feeding on some dead weeds at the edge of the water. 

 On being disturbed they flew a short distance and 



