FIFIT 543 



about unhindered. It is thus frequently to be found on the same ground 

 as the Homed Lark, and comparison shows that the two have much in 

 common with regard to both structure and mode of life. 



Pipits are sometimes called ' ' wag-tails ' ' because of the almost incessant 

 up-and-down movement of the tail when they are on the ground. When 

 walking or running, the bird also makes a fore-and-aft pecking movement 

 of the head, in unison with the tread of its feet; this is more vigorous 

 when the birds are moving rapidly. The head movement is thus timed 

 rather evenly, but the tail motion is irregular, and practiced whether the 

 pipit be standing still or walking. 



The dun-colored plumage of the pipit matches so well the brown earth 

 on which the bird forages while in our latitudes, that the observer often 

 has difficulty in keeping the object of his interest in sight. On plowed 

 ground the difficulty is increased as the many irregularities in the surface 

 aiford the bird opportunities to pass behind clods or into furrows and 

 become lost to view. 



When running or foraging the pipit is usually silent, but just before 

 taking to wing the birds as a rule utter several short and sharp notes. 

 Then they spring into the air, flashing as they rise the white outer margins 

 of the tail. Unless badly frightened a bird will usually circle about one 

 or more times and then return almost to the spot whence it arose. Safety 

 is sought first by running, and then in flight. The pipit, like most other 

 plains dwellers, never seeks shelter in dense vegetation. 



The greatest number of pipits seen at any one time was fully fifty in 

 one flock observed near Snelling on January 8, 1915. East of the moun- 

 tains they were encountered in small numbers. Near Williams Butte 

 one was seen in flight over a pasture, on September 23, 1915. Three days 

 later, at an altitude of 10,000 feet near the head of Warren Fork, 2 were 

 flushed from a 'buffalo-grass' meadow. Their call notes and actions were 

 just like those seen on the west slope. There was nothing to lead to the 

 belief that they were more than passing transients there. In Yosemite 

 Valley small flocks of pipits were noted by Mr. C. W. Michael (MS) on 

 November 5, 12, and 13, 1920. 



American Dipper. Cinclus mexicanus unicolor Bonaparte 



Field characters. — Body size nearly that of Eobin, but tail very short, about one- 

 half length of body. Whole plumage appearing dark slate gray; young paler toned 

 beneath, with whitish throat. No contrasted markings anywhere in adults save for 

 small white spot on upper eyelid; when perched on rock or bank, bird bobs body down 

 and up at short intervals. (See pi. 52.) Voice: Male has an elaborate and varying 

 song; call note a short zit or hzeet, given singly or in rapid series. 



