MOTACILLIN^. 229 



the greater coverts broadly edged "with olive; the quills brown, edged 

 with olive ; tail with the outermost feathers white terminally, and for 

 the greater part of both webs ; the penultimate with a white tip ; 

 central feathers olive-brown ; the intermediate ones brown, with 

 olive edgings. In summer plumage, the upper parts are more 

 brown, and less olive, more broadly streaked with dusky centres, and 

 the under parts always pale fulvescent, passing to white on the 

 abdomen and lower tail-coverts. 



Bill dusky above, dull fleshy beneath ; legs pale fleshy brown ; 

 irides dark brown. Length 6.7 inches; extent 11; wing 3£ ; 

 tail 2 1 ; tarsus T 8 y ; bill at front t 7 q. 



The Indian Tree-Pipit is veiy similar to its European congener, 

 but appears to differ slightly. It is found over all India in the 

 cold season, for it is a winter visitant only, coming early in October, 

 and departing about the end of April. It frequents gardens, 

 groves, thin tree-jungle ; also occasionally grain fields, beds of 

 woody streams, &c. It is social in its habits, many being generally 

 found together. They usually feed on the ground on various 

 insects, and also on seeds ; but, on being disturbed, fly up at once 

 to the nearest tree. They now and then feed on trees, hopping 

 about the upper branches, and occasionally snapping at an insect 

 on the wing. It is said by the natives to kill many mosquitoes, 

 hence some of the native names. Mr. Blyth says he has seen small 

 parties of them flying over their haunts, in a restless unsettled way, 

 now and then alighting on a tree, and uttering a slight chirp, and 

 continuing this till nearly dark. Its flesh is used by Falconers as a 

 restorative to the Bhyri, and is said to be very delicate. It is taken 

 in numbers for the table at Calcutta, and elsewhere in Bengal, and 

 sold as Ortolan. Colonel Sykes' remark (which must have arisen 

 from a mistake), " Found on open stony lands," is of course, not 

 at all applicable to this bird, and misled many in identifying this 

 species with his description. 



597. Pipastes arborens, Bechstein. 



Anthus, apud Bechstein — A. trivialis, L. — Gould, Birds of 

 Europe, pi. 139— Blyth, Cat. 752— Horsf., Cat. 561. 



