134 MEADOW-PIPIT. 
but the migratory individuals which arrive from the south in April 
are somewhat later. The nest, placed among sheltering herbage in 
a depression of the level ground or the side of a bank, and often in 
ling, is constructed of dry grass with a lining of finer materials ; the 
eggs, usually 4-6 in number, being greyish-white—sometimes with a 
green and at others with a pinkish tint—thickly mottled with 
different shades of brown, and occasionally having a few hair-streaks 
at the larger end: measurements *78 by °57 in. Two broods are 
generally reared in the season. In many districts, especially on 
the moorlands where other small species of birds are comparatively 
scarce, the Cuckoo commonly places her egg in the nest of the 
Meadow-Pipit. The rather shrill song is generally uttered on the 
wing, but sometimes from a stone or low bush. The food consists 
of insects, worms, small snails and molluscs, with seeds in winter ; 
and in search of these the bird may be seen working its way among 
grass or heather with a slow creeping movement, varied by an occa- 
sional quick run. Its flight is jerky and wavering. The scent 
emitted by the Titlark is very strong, and dogs ‘point’ it more 
frequently than they do any other ground-bird. 
Adult male: eye-stripe narrow and dull white ; upper parts olive- 
brown, with dark stripes down the centre of the feathers ; quills dark 
brown, with a greenish-yellow tint on the margins of the outer webs; 
wing-coverts and inner secondaries (the latter being shorter than the 
primaries) brown, edged with dull white; tail dark brown, except 
the outer pair of feathers which are white on the terminal part, while 
the second pair have a white spot near the tip; under parts dull 
white, streaked with brownish-black on the throat, gorget and flanks ; 
bill dark brown above and at the tip, the rest paler; legs and feet 
pale brown; hind claw longer than the hind-toe, and only slightly 
curved. Length 5°75 in.; wing 3:1 in. The female is less richly 
spotted below. After the autumn moult, the upper as well as the 
under parts are suffused with a yellowish-buff tint ; and in spring 
this hue is very noticeable on the throats of fresh arrivals from the 
Continent. The young are even more buff-coloured, but the streaks 
on the under parts are smaller and browner than in the adults. 
