MEADOW PIPIT. 71 
MEADOW PIPIT. 
ANTHUS PRATENSIS, Linn. 
Pl. XL, fig. 6. 
Geogr. distr.—Europe generally; in Asia it is recorded from 
Palestine, Trebizond, Teflis, Indersk, Persepolis, Western India, and 
Siam; N. Africa in winter, being common on both sides of the Straits 
of Gibraltar from October to the end of March, and found in Iceland 
from the end of April to September; common, generally distributed, 
and resident, in Great Britain. 
Food.—Insects in all stages, worms, slugs, &c. 
Nest.—Large ; formed of grass stems, finer towards the inside, 
and mixed with rootlets and horse-hair. 
Position of nest.—On the ground in meadows, or on the borders 
of heathy moors; sometimes concealed under a tuft of grass. 
Number of eggs.—4-6; usually 5. 
Time of nidification.—V-VII. 
This species chiefly frequents the less cultivated parts 
of the country, whether lying high or low, dry or wet. 
According to Hewitson, in the choice of a nesting place 
it ‘‘is more partial to the margins of heathy moors” than 
to meadows and pastures, and he states that it is very 
abundant on those which border the lake district of Cum- 
berland and Westmoreland; ‘“‘in many of the northern 
parts of the country it is perhaps the most abundant of 
small birds, if, indeed, it be not the only one visible in the 
wilder and more desolate spots;” ‘‘to the eastern and 
southern counties of England it is a regular autumn 
visitor.” (4th ed. Yarrell). 
The eggs vary much less than those of the Tree Pipit, 
my figure 4 of the latter and figure 6 representing very 
fairly the ordinary amount of modification which one 
meets with; I have, however, a paler variety, the broad 
end of which is scribbled over with black lines like those 
of the Yellow Bunting. 
This bird is smaller than the Tree Pipit, and has a longer 
hind claw to the foot. 
