k 



It 



!t> 



-^^ 



133 



same colour near the root. Irides dark brown; bill and feet yellowish brown. Total length 8 inches; 

 extent of wings 12; wing, from flexure, 375; tail 3; bill, along the ridge '5, along the edge of lower 

 mandible *75 ; tarsus 1; middle toe and claw '85; hind toe and claw '75, 



Young. The young has the breast more spotted, and the feathers of the upper parts narrowly margined with 

 pale rust-colour. 



Obs. In some examples the under tail-coverts are pure white, while in others the upper wing-coverts are 

 broadly margined with light rufous brown. Allowing for this variation, I cannot see the propriety of 

 admitting the supposed new species from Queen Charlotte's Sound [AntHus grayi, Bonap.), which I 

 have accordingly expunged from our list. 



?ems 



1 ro;>iridu ^^i 

 "'^wi bniuh^u: colli 

 ..-, mmimis liete et 



•• 



pnmanis 

 \ twfrice exlL' fere 

 J lie alba, tc-^- ^^tus 

 cTiperiore bninneo 

 il-brunnc-^- iride 



»n 



icue 



•k fu^-'^'icente: 



iut 



, o" ^.^ pectore 



^ ^bf^-^bercentr^ 



rr 



..larbandofblaet 



le bod; . .„ 



^njadest on * 



•^ ' , : h are ^'^''' 

 wl'"^'' '^. -f the 



gcoer 



-reak 



OJ 



Varieties. Albinos, more or less pure, are of common occurrence. The following is the description of an 

 example in the Canterbury Museum : — General plumage pure white, varied on the back and wings with 

 brownish grey ; some of the quills and tail-feathers pure white, the others dark brown, as in ordinary 

 specimens; bill and feet white horn-colour; the hind claw conspicuously long, measuring '55 of an 

 inch. 



Of this bird I may remark that it is a true Pipit both in structure and in its habits of life. It 

 bears a general resemblance to an Australian species (Antlms australis) ; but the specific differ- 

 ences are sufficiently mauifest on an actual comparison of the two birds. 



It is common throughout the country, frequenting the open land, and sometimes resorting 

 to the dry sands along the sea-shore. During the summer months it is gregarious, and may then 

 be observed in flocks varying in number from half a dozen to fifty or more, alternately collecting 

 and mounting in the air with a loud cheerful note, and scattering themselves again on the open 

 ground to search for their food, which consists of insects and their larvse, small earthworms, and 

 occasionally minute seeds as well. On the approach of winter the flocks disperse, and the birds 

 appear to pair off at once, and remain so till the breeding-season arrives. They are always plen- 

 tiful on the settlers' farms, and may be seen during the summer months perched in large parties 

 on the roofs of the country houses or on the surrounding fences and outbuildings. They may 

 sometimes be observed in similar situations within the towns, and notably on the roofs of churches 

 and other lofty edifices. They love to resort to the roads and beaten paths, where they amuse 

 the traveller by their playfulness, running before him as he advances, then rising in the air with a 

 sharp but pleasant chirp, settling down again and running forward as before. During the heat 

 of the day they may often be seen sitting on the logs or fences with their beaks wide open as if 

 gasping for air. They repose at night on the ground, finding shelter among the grass or fern on 

 the open ridges or on the wayside, where the benighted traveller, as he plods along, may often 

 disturb them and hear the sharp rustling of their wings as they rise startled at his very feet. 



When searching for food, a flock of these birds will spread themselves out in all directions ; 

 but the instant a Hawk appears in sight, or some other common danger threatens, they will rise 

 into the air together with much clamour, and sometimes mount to a considerable height. I have 

 frequently seen a number of them pursue and harass the Bush-Hawk, which is doubtless their 

 worst natural enemy. Their ordinary flight is rapid, and undulating, being performed, as it were, 

 by a succession of jerks. Durmg the breeding-season the male bird frequently soars, mounting to 



/ 



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