282 CASSELL'S BOCK OF HI RMS. 



RICHARD'S SPURRED PIPIT. 



Richard's Spurred Pipit (Corydalla Richardii). — The mantle of this species is of a dull brown, 

 each feather having a light edge ; the region of the cheeks, a stripe over the eye, and the entire under 

 side are yellowish white, shaded with grey upon the breast ; the sides of the throat are white, 

 decorated with oval, dark brown spots ; the centre quills are greyish brown, broa'dly shaded with light 

 reddish grey on the inner web ; the outer web of the first quill is almost white, the rest shade 

 gradually into reddish yellow ; the middle tail-feathers are brownish black, the others, like those of the 

 wing, become gradually lighter, the outer feathers being nearly entirely white. The summer plumage 

 is deeper in tint, and the edgings to the feathers more clearly defined than at other seasons. The eye 

 is brown, the upper mandible dark brown, the lower one yellow towards its base ; the feet are 

 yellowish brown. This bird is from seven inches and a half to eight inches long, and twelve inches 

 and a half broad ; the wing measures three inches and four-fifths, and the tail three inches and a 

 quarter. 



The Spurred Pipits frequent Great Britain, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Greece, and Sardinia, 

 but are never seen in large numbers ; they are also occasionally found in Heligoland ; and Jerdon 

 informs us that during the winter they are met with in the Himalayas, Bengal, Nepaul, Ceylon, 

 Burmah, and other parts of India ; at the latter season, according to Swinhoe, they are also numerous 

 in Central China. We ourselves have never succeeded in finding the true Corydalla in either Spain 

 or Africa. Marshes, boggy districts, and the grassy margins of ponds or streams, are the localities to 

 which they resort. Jerdon tells us that they particularly frequent rice-fields, always associating in 

 small parties. Their flight is light, graceful, and undulating. The nest, which is very flat, and 

 placed in a hollow or hole in the ground, is formed of stalks woven together with fibres. The eggs, 

 usually laid about May, are oval, glossy, and of a delicate blueish white, spotted with blueish grey, 

 yellowish brown, or dark brown, and occasionally spotted and streaked with brownish grey ; they 

 much resemble those of the Meadow or Rock Pipit. We learn from Jerdon that a large number of 

 these birds are sold in the markets of Calcutta, and passed off as Ortolans. 



This species was first found in England by N. Vigors, Esq., in 1812, since which time a few 

 other specimens have been seen in different parts of the island. According to Yarrell, " The habits 

 of the Spurred Pipit — as far as the peculiarities of so rare a bird can be known, for it is equally scarce 

 on the Continent — are said to be very similar to those of other Pipits. It is mostly observed on the 

 ground, frequenting old pastures, where it stands very high and runs with facility, waving the tail up 

 and down, with a gentle airy motion, like that observed in the Wagtails, while its long hind claw, but 

 slightly curved, connects it with the Larks ; it has, like them, an agreeable song." 



The WAGTAILS (Motarillce) are readily distinguished from the Pipits by the comparative 

 slenderness of their shape ; their legs are high and thin, the wings of medium size, the third quill 

 longer than the rest, and the secondaries scarcely longer than the primaries ; the tail is very long, 

 composed of narrow feathers, and often forked at its extremity. The beak is slender, straight, and 

 awl-shaped, with a ridge at its culmen, and slightly incised at its tip. The plumage is much 

 variegated, differs somewhat according to the sexes, and is twice moulted. 



The various members of this family inhabit the eastern hemisphere, and within its limits are met 

 with in every latitude ; most species prefer the immediate vicinity of water, but some few often seek 

 their food in comparatively arid situations, returning, however, within a few hours to their usual 

 haunts. The movements of the Wagtails are characterised by considerable liveliness and grace, they 

 are neither so hurried nor so rapid as those of the Pipits. Upon the ground they generally walk with 



