THE MEADOW PIPIT. 



317 



A]'^ pi^:^/^'^ 



WHITJi-FAGED EPHTHIANUUA.- Ephlhmtiura. dlhijions. 



Tlie Pipits, or Titlaeks as they are sometimes called, form a well-marked group, 

 which possesses the long hind toe of the hawk, togetlier with very similar plumage, and 

 also bears the long tail which is found in the Wag-tails. Several species of Pipit inhabit 

 England, two examples of which will be figured. 



The first is the common 

 Meadow Pipit, or Meadow Tit- 

 ling, a bird which may be seen 

 throughout the year upon moors, 

 waste lands, and marshy ground, 

 changing its locality according to 

 the season of year. It is a pretty 

 though rather sombre little bird, 

 and is quick and active in its 

 movements, often jerking its long 

 tail in a fashion that reminds the 

 observer of the Wagtail's habits. 

 It moves with considerable celerity, 

 tripping over the rough and rocky 

 ground which it frequents, and 

 picking up insects with the stroke 

 of its unerring beak. Its food, 

 however, is of a mixed descrip- 

 tion, as in the crops of several 

 individuals were found seeds, in- 

 sect and water-shells, some of the 

 latter being entire. 



The song of this bird is hardly 

 deserving of the name, being rather 

 a feeble and plaintive " cheeping " 

 than a true song. While uttering 

 its notes, the Meadow Pipit is 

 generally on the wing, but does 

 not begin to sing until it has 

 attained its full elevation, re- 

 serving its voice for the gradual 

 descent. The song is begun quite 

 early in the season, but as the 

 bird is so partial to waste lands, 

 it is not heard so commonly as 

 that of rarer birds. It is grega- 

 rious in its habits, assembling 

 in little flocks, which generally 

 come to the cultivated grounds 

 about September or October, and 

 roost amicably together on the 

 ground at night. 



The nest of this species is 

 placed on the ground, and gene- 

 rally hidden in a large grass-tuft. 

 It appears, from some observations 

 made by Mr. Thompson, that the 



bird is in the habit of cariying dead grasses and laying them over her nest whenever 

 she leaves her eggs or young. The object of this precaution is not, however, very 

 evident, as the grass is usually of a different hue from the surrounding foliage, and 

 apparently serves rather as a guide to the nest than a concealment. The eggs are from 

 four to six in number, of a dark brown colour, speckled freely with reddish brown. Tho 



MEADOW VlVn.—AnthiLs pmtmsis. 



