225 



THE MEADOW PIPIT. 



Titlark. Moss-cheeper.* 



Anthus pratensis, Linn, (sp.) 

 Alauda „ „ 



Is very common from meadows and bogs at the sea-side, 

 to humid mountain tracts of the greatest elevation. 



It frequents the shore at all seasons. Dry sand-hills bordering 

 the seat or the ocean, are much frequented by tins species in 

 summer, not for their own sake, but for the little damp or marshy 

 hollows among them, in which the titlark especially delights. It 

 is permanently resident, but suffers much from frost and snow, 

 and during such times is occasionally driven for food to the 

 streets of Belfast; — even after two nights of frost has been 

 noticed there. One of these birds feigned being wounded 

 for the purpose of withdrawing the attention of my infor- 

 mant from its nest. Mr. J. E. Garrett has frequently found 

 the nest of the meadow pipit on the banks of water-courses and 

 drains, as well as on the level ground, in fields. One which was 

 known to him at the side of a drain, was discovered by some bird- 

 nesting boys, who pulled the grass away that concealed it. On 

 visiting the nest the next day, he observed a quantity of withered 

 grass laid regularly across ; having removed the grass, winch from 

 its contrast in colour with the surrounding herbage, was supposed 

 to have been placed here as a mark by the boys, the bird flew off. 

 The grass was found similarly placed on the following day, 

 and he perceived a small aperture beneath it, by which the bird 

 took its departure, thus indicating that the screen which harmo- 

 nized so ill with the surrounding verdure had been brought there 

 by the bird itself. J 



* The bird is commonly called " moss cheeper " in the north ; by the name of 

 " wekeen " it is known in Kerry (Neligan). 



f I was much amused by seeing one walk deliberately into the sea, and perform a 

 thorough ablution. 



% A similar fact with regard to another species, is recorded in the following 

 words, in Hewitson's Illustrations of the Eggs of British Birds. " Mr. Blyth mentions 

 a remarkable instance in which the skylark — its nest being laid open by the scythe 

 — constructed over it a canopy of dry grass to afford it the protection and conceal- 



VOL. I. Q 



