324 INSECTIVOR.E. 



they have been confounded. The plumage of the old birds 

 changes after the breeding season, so as to resemble that of 

 the young, but the change is not very striking. There are 

 three of them ; two resident, and one migrant. 



THE MEADOW-PIPIT (Anthus pratensis). 



This bird, which is a resident, might, with as much pro- 

 priety, be called the moor-pipit, or the marsh-pipit, for it is 

 found abundantly in places so upland and naked, that hardly 

 any other bird will resort to them. In summer, it frequents 

 the naked places of the moors, where it nestles in the tuffcs 

 of grass, and picks up worms and insects for itself and its 

 young ; in winter it comes down, but still prefers marshy 

 places. Its colour is very sober, and its appearance is as poor 

 as its pasture, while its short and complaining note tends to 

 deepen the impression. 



The length of the meadow -pipit is rather less than six 

 inches. The prevailing colours are dark olive brown, with a 

 slight greenish tinge on the upper part, and dull brownish- 

 white on the under, with a pale reddish tinge on the breast 

 of the male. The markings above are dull greyish-white 

 round the eyes and on the ear coverts, and lighter margins to 

 the feathers on the back, and scapulars ; those on the under 

 part have indistinct blotches of greenish-brown, two of which 

 form obscure lines from the gape down to the sides of the 

 neck. Wings very dark brown with dull white margins to 

 the lesser coverts, tail the same, with a white margin on each 

 exterior feather, and a few white spots at the end. 



Contrary to the usual habit of birds, the meadow-pipit is 

 more gay in its winter than in its summer plumage. The 

 sides of the feathers above become olive green after the moult, 

 and the under part acquires a yellowish hue. 



The moult takes place in the higher and more retired situa- 

 tions in which the birds nestle, and the new plumage, and 



