KIKAL BIRD ZfFE. 



in nest^ under trees or bj- the hed^erow-s. while tho^e of 

 brighter tints are found in the barest situation?, in the 

 bright sunlight, iiid almost invahabh- in pasture rields. 

 But whether this circumstance is in any \va\- connected 

 with the i^reat \'ariation of the e^rg^s. I am not prepared 

 to say. 



Wan,- birds are Tree Pipici; ir. approaching their 

 -lest. Deceptive motions are their protective power, at 

 '.east under orcinar\- circumstances. You see the male 

 bird, when his partner is upon her home, dart silently 

 dowTiu arc.s into the herbagre ar.d is lost to \-iew. Could 

 you now observe his actions, you would find he runs 

 rapidly through the grass and thus gains his nest unseen. 

 The nest, to \ you wiii find is almost buried in the 

 surrounding \ei:etation. and should you come ufton a 

 nest by accident, the female bird sits quiet and motion- 

 less, crouching low over her treasure, and only quits her 

 charge at the last moment, which she does silently and 

 swifih". getting out of sigrht as soon as possible. The 

 m.ale bird during the whole period of incubatioa gocs 

 but little way from the nest. He chooses sonic convie- 

 nient tree near his home, from which he sings the day 

 throughout, and which he uses as a ladder into the air, 

 ri)-ing down from it to feed his mate, and using^ it alwaj-s 

 as the starting point of his soaring fl ghts. He roosts 

 on tlie ground near the nest ; and when the young are 

 able to riy. and at libertv" to repose in any suitable place. 

 both young and parents are never known to roost any- 

 where but amongst tlie herba^ on the fields. I am of 

 opinion but one brood is reared in the year. 



When the young are able to fl\- tliey keep in their 

 p.arents" company, but not throughout tlie season, for in 

 AugusL Ttee Pipits are invariably du.shed ou the grass 

 r.eids in pairs, or solitan-. Upon tlie ground the Tree 



