246 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



generally diffused tlirougliout most of the cul- 

 tivated districts of England, and in manj places, 

 as in some neighbourhoods of London, is very 

 plentiful. In colour it resembles the meadow- 

 pipit, but the greater length of claw, and the 

 less slender beak, are characteristics of the tree 

 species. Tliat excellent observer of birds, Mr. 

 Bljth, remarks, too, some other peculiarities. He 

 says that it is more " equally poised on the centre 

 of gravity, whence also its attitudes are very differ- 

 ent, and its movements are far more deliberate, than 

 those of its congeners. The mode of progression is 

 indeed quite different, thougli ambulatory in both 

 instances; the slow gait of the tree pipit con- 

 trasting strongly with the nimbler run of all the 

 others ; which latter is again very unlike the 

 quick step of the larks. In captivity it is an 

 extremely healthy bird, and moults very freely ; 

 thrives upon almost any sort of food, and delights 

 to bathe and wash itself in a pan of water. The 

 other pipits, however, and also the wagtails, are 

 very difficult to maintain in a captive state ; they 

 refuse to wash themselves, and suffer very much 

 at the moulting period, both in spring and autumn. 

 I never knew one, or a wagtail, to change its 



