BIRDS OF MINNESOTA 405 
Family MOTACILLID_. 
ANTHUS PENSYLVANICUS (LarHam). (697.) 
AMERICAN PIPIT. 
To any interested observer of the birds the characteristics of 
the Titlark would become especially so. Only seen in migra- 
tions it can scare¢ely fail of instantaneous recognition. They are 
very irregular in their distribution in migration, sometimes ap- 
pearing for two or three successive springs in nearly the same 
localities, and then absenting themselves several years to re- 
turn in the same or greater numbers. And I have often ob- 
served that a full representation in the spring migration was 
more likely to be followed by a light one in the autumn. They 
return by some other route. 
I should say, that as a rule, they are more numerous in fall 
than in spring, yet this rule will have some marked exceptions. 
They arrive in the southern part of the State about the 20th 
of May, and after remaining only a short time, pass on to the 
further north to breed. About the second week of September 
they return, and may be seen daily on the plowed fields in large 
flocks until after the middle of October. It isnot unusual to find 
them associated with the Lapland Longspurs. Their flight is 
graceful in the extreme, and so characteristic as to point out 
their identity at considerable distance. Rumor asserts that 
they breed in the islands of the Lake of the Woods, but it is 
not yet sufficiently authenticated. They are reported as 
abundant in their fall migrations in the St. Peter’s and Red 
river valleys, and on the level prairies of Grant and Douglas 
counties. Dr. Hvoslef gives them full recognition in Fillmore 
county in their migrations. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Above olive-brown, each feather slightly darker towards the 
central portion; beneath pale dull buff, or yellowish-brown, 
with a maxillary series of dark brown spots and streaks across 
the breast and along the sides. Ring round the eye and super- 
ciliary stripe, yellowish; central tail feathers like the back, 
the others dark blackish-brown; the external one white, ex- 
cept at the base within; a white spot at the end of the second; 
primaries edged with whitish; other quills with pale brownish. 
Length, 6.50; wing, 3.45; tail, 2.95. 
Habitat, North America. 
