223 BRITISH BIRDS. 



The eggs of the Tree-Pipit are from four to six in number, and differ 

 so much that it is almost impossible adequately to describe their 

 variations. The eggs in each clutch are nearly alike, and it is most 

 probable that each bird lays a peculiar type, which it has inherited from 

 its parents and transmits to its ofiFspring. The eggs of this bird may be 

 classified into two groups — one in which the spots are very small and so 

 profusely scattered over the surface as almost entirely to conceal the 

 ground-colour, frequently becoming confluent at the large end ; the other 

 in which the spots are bold blotches and streaks, principally confined to 

 the large end of the egg, leaving the rest of the ground-colour distinctly 

 visible where the spots are smaller and further apart. Each of these two 

 groups may again be subdivided according to colour, one extreme being 

 pinkish white and the other pale greenish blue in ground-colour, the spots 

 on the former being reddish brown and on the latter sometimes olive- 

 brown and sometimes dark reddish brown. Between these extremes 

 numerous intermediate varieties occur. The eggs vary in length from "9 

 to '7 inch, and in breadth from '65 to '58 inch. What purpose this great 

 diversity of colour serves is hard to divine, but it is probably a protective 

 one. Dixon has noticed that the darker-coloured eggs are generally found 

 in nests in dark situations, as, for instance, under trees or by hedges, 

 whilst those of lighter tints are found in the barest situations in the bright 

 sunlight, and almost invariably in pasture-fields. The Tree-Pipit may 

 sometimes rear two broods in the year; but this is by no means generally 

 the case, for after the young are fledged they keep in company with their 

 parents for a considerable time. 



The Tree-Pipit is a very wary bird in approaching its nest, and rarely 

 betrays its whereabouts. When visiting it the parent bird generally drops 

 into the cover some distance from it, and runs through the grass to the 

 nest. The female sits very closely, often allowing the mowers to pass 

 their scythes over her ere she takes wing. During the whole time the 

 female is engaged in incubation the male rarely wanders far from the nest. 

 He keeps to his favourite tree, spending his time in song-flights, every 

 now and then conveying food to his sitting mate. He also roosts on the 

 ground near his nest; and when the young are able to fly they always 

 roost amongst the herbage on the ground. In early autumn the Tree- 

 Pipits do not resort to the trees as much as in the earlier part of the year, 

 and are never seen to engage in those soaring flights so characteristic of 

 the bird in the breeding-season. 



The food of the Tree-Pipit is largely composed of insects, picked up 

 from the ground or from the stems of herbage. The bird may often be seen 

 on the pastures near grazing cattle, turning over the droppings in search of 

 little beetles ; and its young are chiefly fed on caterpillars, small worms 

 and flies. Upon the ground it is very active in its search for food, run- 



