34 6 RECENTLY-DESCRIBED SPECIES. 



coloration it resembles A. arboreus, but is considerably paler 

 and greyer ; the back striation is of similar character ; the 

 breast spots, however, are not distinct, as in A. pratensis, 

 but somewhat clouded and brown in colour ; they are 

 also much smaller and more distinct than the spots of either 

 A. obscurus or A. spinoletta. The different character of the 

 breast-spots alone serves to separate this Water-Pipit from its 

 affined species ; the wings and tail are coloured like those of 

 A. spinoletta. The summer plumage is also similar, the breast- 

 spots being replaced by a uniform dull reddish buff. The 

 wino" lining and axillaries are white. 



" This Pipit frequents extensive swamps and lakes (jheels, as 

 they are called) in the northern parts of India during the cold 

 season • and in the spring it takes its departure for the north. 

 It is extremely shy and difficult of approach. I have generally 

 found it in company with Ant kits rosaceus. I have not, how- 

 ever always found it at "jheels" frequented by this latter 

 species, which is a far more abundant bird. Its call and alarm- 

 notes are like those of Anthus pratensis. The following are 

 dimensions of some examples I have by me : — 



" I have seen other males in addition to the two noted above. 

 A o-knce at the above dimensions shows this Pipit to be very 

 different from those of the large A. spinoletta. — Brooks, Ibis, 



1876,501. . ...•'.. 



(i My Anthus neglectus is, I find by comparison, identical with 

 Mr. Swiuhoe's A. Blackenstoni. 



His description is correct as far as colour of plumage is con- 

 cerned ; but the bird's legs and feet are conspicuously lighter 

 in colour than those of Anthus spinoletta. My term of (i brown" 

 is better thnn Mr. Swinhoe's of " blackish brown." The legs 

 and feet of Mr. Swinhoe's examples, however, may have dried 

 rather dark. I noted the colour from the fresh birds. The 

 total length given by Mr. Swinhoe is clearly wrong; so also 

 with regard to length of wing. I have shot about forty exam- 

 ples ; and the greatest total length observed was 6- 3 j the long- 

 est wing, 8' 4; longest tail, 2-65."— Brooks, Ibis, 1877, 206. 



