THE TREE PIPIT 175 



which the bird hovers a little, then descends, singing 

 still, to the perch he started from. 



The Meadow Pipit is the best known member of his 

 family with us. Ground-lark, Titlark, Ling-bird, Moss- 

 cheeper are some of its local names. It seems able to 

 make itself at home anywhere in summer, but in winter 

 it seeks the fields in sheltered places, near the coast by 

 preference. Its food consists of insects, worms, mol- 

 luscs and small snails, with seeds in winter. The little 

 bird works its creeping way up the grass or heather, 

 taking now and again quick little runs. The flight is 

 wavering and jerky. The Titlark has a very strong 

 smell about it, dogs " point " it frequently. 



In size the Tree Pipit most resembles the Wagtail, buj; 

 it has a shorter tail. Its general colour is more like the 

 Lark, but it is less speckled. The mantle is olive-green, 

 the breast yellowish. The points of the folded tail are 

 formed by the three first flight feathers; the fourth is 

 much shorter. The nail of the back toe is long like a 

 spur, but not so long as the toe. The beak is delicate 

 and slightly awl-shaped. It is a nice modest little bird ; 

 its flight dips and rises again continually. It builds its 

 nest cleverly with soft materials in the shape of a saucer, 

 and places it on the ground on a clod of earth, under the 

 shelter of a heap of stones, or on a grass ridge. Five 

 eggs are laid which are very varied, a dull blue, some- 

 times brownish, sometimes white, with dark spots. 



