166 ALAUDIN^E. ANTHUS. 



tapering to a slit point ; oesophagus of moderate width, with- 

 out crop ; proventriculus oblong ; stomach roundish, com- 

 pressed, with distinct strong muscles, large tendons, and 

 dense, rugous epithelium ; intestine short ; coeca very small 

 and cylindrical. Nostrils oblong, pervious, in the lower and 

 fore part of the rather large nasal depression, which is fea- 

 thered behind. Eyes of moderate size. Aperture of ear 

 large, transversely oval. Head small, narrow, ovato-oblong : 

 neck rather short ; body ovate, slender. Feet rather long ; 

 tarsus much compressed, with eight anterior scutella ; toes 

 rather long, slender, compressed ; the first large, second 

 and fourth about equal, third and fourth united at the base ; 

 claws long, slightly arched, extremely compressed, laterally 

 grooved, acuminate. Plumage soft, on the upper parts rather 

 compact, on the lower blended ; wings rather long, of eigh- 

 teen quills, the outer four nearly equal and longest, inner 

 secondaries long and tapering ; tail rather long, straight, 

 emarginate. 



The Pipits, although of a more slender form than the 

 Larks, are very closely allied to them ; as they also are to 

 the Wagtails, which differ chiefly in being of a more deli- 

 cate form, with the tail much longer. They are small, ac- 

 tive, restless birds, remarkable for their sharp, rather weak 

 notes, which they utter in a rapid manner, and for their 

 habit of vibrating the body when standing. They frequent 

 meadows and pastures ; feed on worms, insects, and some- 

 times seeds ; have a rapid, wavering, undulatory flight, nes- 

 tle among the grass ; and lay four or five dull-coloured spot- 

 ted eggs. 



98. ANTHUS PRATENSIS. MEADOW PIPIT. 



Upper parts olivaceous, spotted with dusky ; lower parts 

 brownish-white, anteriorly tinged with red ; neck, sides, and 

 fore part of breast marked with ovato-oblong, brownish-black 

 spots ; the first quill shorter than the fourth ; the hind claw 

 slightly arched, extremely slender, much longer than the first 

 joint of its toe, and about five-twelfths and a half long ; feet 

 light yellowish-brown, claws dusky. In summer the colours 

 are much faded, owing to the abrasion of the greenish mar- 

 gins of the feathers. The young have the upper parts more 

 tinged with yellowish-green, and the dusky spots larger. 



