THE SINGING BIRDS. 275 



it usually settles near the coast among marshes, or near fields that are lying under water. In the 

 British Isles it remains throughout the year, and is known in the lake district as the " Ling Bird," from 

 the constancy with which it frequents the moors overgrown with heather or ling, in that part of the 

 country. Like the Larks it migrates in large flocks, and frequently in company with those birds, 

 travelling day and night ; it usually makes its appearance in this country about March, leaving again 

 in November or December. Meadows, marsh-lands, or commons, afford the resorts it prefers, but it 

 generally avoids arid or barren districts. The movements and habits of this species resemble those of 

 other members of its family ; it lives on excellent terms with birds of its own kind, but constantly 

 exhibits a strong desire to annoy and irritate its other feathered companions. 



"When progressing from place to place," says .Mr. Yarrell, " the flight of this bird is performed 

 by short unequal jerks, but when in attendance on its mate, and undisturbed, it rises with an equal 

 vibratory motion, and sings some musical soft notes on the wing, sometimes while hovering over its 

 nest, and returns to the ground after singing. Occasionally it may be seen to settle on a low bush, 

 but is rarely observed sitting on a branch of a tree, or perched on a rail, which is the common habit 

 of the Tree Pipit. The Meadow Pipit, when standing on a slight mound of earth, a clod, or a stone, 

 frequently moves his tail up and down like a Wagtail." 



The nest is placed on the ground, sometimes so much sunk as to be with difficult}' perceived ; 

 sometimes sheltered by a tuft of grass. It is composed externally of stems and leaves of grass, lined 

 with finer grass, fibres, and hair. 



W. Thompson, Esq., in his valuable communications on the natural history of Ireland, says 

 that " A friend at Cromac has frequently found the nest of the Meadow Pipit on the banks of 

 watercourses and drains, as well as on the ground in fields. One which was known to him at the 

 side of a drain was discovered by some bird-nesting boys, who pulled away the grass that concealed 

 it. On visiting it the next day he observed a quantity of withered grass laid regularly across the 

 nest ; on removing this, which, from its contrast in colour with the surrounding grass, he considered 

 must have been placed there by the boys, the bird flew off the nest, and, on his returning the 

 following day, he found the grass similarly placed, and perceived a small aperture beneath it, by 

 which the bird took its departure, thus indicating that the screen, which harmonised so ill with 

 the surrounding verdure, had been brought thither by the bird itself. The same gentleman once 

 introduced the egg of a Hedge Accentor into a Meadow Pipit's nest containing two of its own eggs, 

 but, after a third egg was laid, the nest was 'abandoned.' " "This, however," observes Mr. Yarrell, 

 " was probably induced by the visits of the observer rather than by the introduction of the strange 

 egg, as the egg of the Cuckoo is move frequently deposited and hatched in the nest of the Meadow 

 Pipit than in that of any other bird." 



The eggs, four or five in number, have a dirty white or dull red shell, thickly strewn with 

 brownish spots and streaks ; they are generally hatched in thirteen days. The young leave the nest 

 before they can fly, but conceal themselves with such adroitness at the first alarm of danger that 

 they are rarely discovered The first brood is produced in the beginning of May. and by the end of 

 July the nestlings are capable of providing for themselves. 



the tree nrrr. 

 The Tree Pipit (Anthits arboreus) so closely resembles the species above described as very 

 frequently to be mistaken for it. It is, however, distinguishable by its superior size, the comparative 

 strength of its beak and tarsi, and the shortness of the much curved centre claw. The upper part 

 of the body is yellowish brown, or dull brownish green, darkly spotted in stripes ; the rump and 

 under side are of one uniform tint ; a stripe over the eyes, the throat, crop, sides of the breast, legs. 



