THE MEADOW PIPIT. 243 



peculiar to our grassy lands and marshes, but in- 

 habits commons, mountains, rocky sea-shores, 

 bleak uplands, and other wide wastes. In the 

 lake counties, where this pipit frequents the heath- 

 clad moors, it is commonly called the Ling- 

 bird, from the ling which grows tliere. In the 

 Okney Isles it is known by the name of Grey 

 Teeting ; and in Scotland, where it is as frequent 

 as in England, it has the name of Moss Cheeper ; 

 for tlierc, as in other countries, where moors 

 abound, it revels among the green mosses which 

 so often chister in these spots. These are the 

 haunts wliich in summer-time the bird chooses for 

 its nest, and from which its joyous song is poured 

 forth in tlic air. Here we may see the pipit 

 gradually rising, with quivering wing, till it is 

 poised at a great height ; and then begins that 

 song, so soft, so musical, that we listen only to 

 regret that the strain is finished, and that the ties 

 of earth again draw the singer downward. Down 

 it comes, with wings and tail outspread and 

 moti(^nless, and, like the sky-lark, in a slanting 

 direction; and when on the ground, runs along over 



spotted with brown ; beak and feet brown ; hind claw as long as 

 the toe. 



