132 TREE-PIPIT. 
a score preparing to migrate from the cliffs near Exmouth on the 
26th of October. 
A specimen of the Tree-Pipit is said to have been brought by the 
Austrian Expedition from Jan Mayen[?] On the Continent this 
species breeds as far north as Troms6 in Norway, and southward to 
the Pyrenees, the higher grounds of Northern Italy, and the 
Crimea; below which it is principally known as a migrant in 
spring and autumn, or as a resident in winter; as it is also in the 
northern portion of Africa, from the Canaries and Morocco on the 
west, to Egypt, Nubia and Abyssinia on the east. It occurs in Siberia 
in summer as far east as Krasnoiarsk in the valley of the Yenesei, 
where it meets with 4. maculatus, a closely-allied form, more olive- 
green in colour and with few dusky streaks on the upper parts. In 
winter the Tree-Pipit has been found in India, as far south as 
Belgaum and as far east as Chutia-Nagpur (Oates). 
About the middle of May the nest, placed on the ground among 
herbage, is constructed of moss, dry grass and roots, lined with fine 
bents and a little hair. The 4-6 eggs are subject to much 
variation; some being greyish-white, mottled with deep brown ; 
others rich reddish-brown ; some almost lilac-pink; and again a 
not uncommon variety resembles the egg of the Reed-Bunting: 
measurements ‘82 by ‘6in. Two broods are sometimes reared in 
the season. The food consists principally of insects, with small 
seeds. The song of the male, see-ar, see-ar, see-ar, is generally 
begun on the topmost branch of a tree, after which the bird rises 
and hovers in the air, and descends—-still singing—to his perch. 
Adult male: eye-stripe buff; upper parts clear sandy-brown with 
distinct dark brown streaks; wing-coverts and secondaries dark 
brown with paler edges ; primaries dull brown ; outer pair of tail- 
feathers white, with a dark brown stripe on part of the inner webs ; 
the second pair merely tipped with white, and otherwise dark brown, 
like the remaining rectrices ; chin dull white; throat buff, with a dark 
line on each side from the bill to the gorget ; sides of the neck, breast 
and flanks buff, with elongated spots and streaks of dark brown ; 
belly dull white ; bill brown above, lighter below ; legs and feet pale 
flesh-colour in life, but yellowish-brown in preserved specimens. 
Length 6 in. ; wing 3°3 in. The female is slightly smaller, and less 
distinctly spotted on the breast. In autumn the buff tint is more 
pronounced ; and in young birds the spots and streaks are smaller 
in size, but more numerous. The Tree-Pipit may always be distin- 
guished from the Meadow-Pipit by its somewhat larger size, warmer 
buff tint, paler legs, and much shorter and more curved hind claw. 
