44 THE BIRDS OF DEVON. 



Nat. Hist. 1887, p. 176 : J. G., Zool. 1880, p. 47). On September 13th, 

 1883, quite a flight of Titlarks seem to have arrived on the south coast, 

 all in very bright and newly-moulted jjlumage (J. G., Zool. 1884, p. 53). 



Tree-Pipit. Antlms trimalis, Linn. 



A summer migrant, common throughout the county. Breeds. 



The Tree-Pipit ari'ives about the middle of April, and remains up to the 

 end of September and even far into October. It is easily to be recognized 

 from its habit of repeatedly flying up a short distance into the air 

 from the topmost twig of some hedge-row elm, and after a short circling 

 flight alighting again with quivering wings, as it pours forth its simple 

 and not unpleasing song. We have often taken its nest in North Devon ; 

 its eggs, which vary greatly, are when fresh among the most beautiful of 

 all produced by our smaller English birds. lioth the Tree-Pipit and the 

 !Meadow-Pipit are more handsome after their autumn moult, when their 

 l)lumage assumes a golden tinge. 



This species is common at Plymouth (II. A, J., ' Naturalist,' 1851, 

 ]). 37). One was seen there as early as April lUth, 1877 (J. G., Zool. 1877, 

 p. 271*)- 'i'he late Mr. T. It. A. Briggs has several times heard it at 

 Egg Puckland on the 10th, 12th, 13th, and 14th of April. AVe observed 

 many in flne plumage in wooded hedges on Prent Hill, September 13th, 

 1889. Mr. Cecil Smitli saw a flock of about twenty near Exmouth on 

 October 2Gth, 1873 (Zool. 1874, p. 2832). Nests are frequently found 

 near Topsham ; on the slopes of the llsildons ; about Kingsbridge, a.nd 

 elsewhere. Mr. J. H. Gurney observed the Tree-Pipit at Marldon, near 

 Totnes, April 23id, 1871 (Zool. 1871, p; 2679). ■ Turton and Kingston 

 frequently observed it in Eora and Penn Woods, near Ilsington. 



As might be expected from the absence of trees on Lundy Island this 

 bird has not been observed there, although it is common in North Devon. 



Eicliard's Pipit. Anthus nchardi, Vieill. 



A casual visitor of occasional cccuncnce, generally during the winter 

 months. 



As no fewer than twenty examjiles of this fine Pipit have in twenty- 

 seven years (I84l'-186i)) been secured in Devon, CornA\ all, and the 

 SciUy Islands, it cannot be said to be a verj- rare visitant to the AN'est of 

 England, especially when we recollect that in all probability ten times as 

 many may liave come and gone without recognition, and so have escaped 

 slaughter. The 19th Sejjtcmber, 1868, when three were shot at Trescoe, 

 SciUy, is the earliest, while one recoided from Prightou on 25th April, 

 1»£0, is the latest, appearance in the year of this straggler from Asia that 

 we know of in Enjjland, the greater number having been obtained in the 

 months of December and January. 



Its large size, its undulating flight, and its strange cry seem to have 



