BRITISH BIRDS. 55 



whitish ; under parts pale yellowish buff, with a line of 

 dark spots on each side of throat, and with bold elongated 

 spots of dark brown on breast and flanks ; centre of belly 

 white ; bill brown, paler at lower base ; tarsi very pale 

 brown. Length 6'oo. Female : rather smallei and with 

 smaller spots below. Hind claw is considerably shorter 

 and more curved than in A. pratensis, and plumage is also 

 paler in both spring and autumn. 



Common throughout England (except extreme west) and 

 South Scotland from April to September, but has not yet 

 been identified in Ireland. Frequents timbered land or 

 outskirts of woods. Nest : on ground concealed in a grass- 

 tuft ; composed of dry grass with a little moss, lined with 

 fine grass and sometimes horse-hair. Eggs : 4 or 5 ; of 

 several varieties, one being greyish-white closely freckled 

 with dark red-brown, a second approaching eggs of 

 Common Bunting, but of a rich reddish tint and smaller ; 

 commonest type is purple-grey with bold spots of dark 

 brown ; size "83 by '62. Song is commenced while the 

 bird is perched on a tree, ascending as it soars upward, and 

 dying away as it descends with outspread wings until it 

 ceases abruptly as the singer regains his perch. 



67. Anthus eampestris (Linn.). TAWNY PIPIT. 



Hab. Middle Europe, west to France, north to Holland 

 and extreme south of Sweden, south to Mediterranean, 

 east into Asia as far as N.W. India. In winter southward 

 to Africa. 



Male : above buffish-brown, inclining to greyish, and 

 wkh dusky centres to feathers of crown and upper back ; 

 eye-stripe broad and whitish ; wings dark brown with 

 yellowish-buff margins to both quills and coverts ; two 

 outer tail-feathers on each side white on outer and portion 

 of inner webs, rest of tail brown ; chin and throa 



