WITH BROWN PREDOMINATING 



263 



Early in the spring the Pipits start on their journey 

 to the Boreal zone, either in the far north or above the 

 timber line in the mountains. 



Up to the" very highest peaks they wander, where 

 snow reigns forever and the fierce heat of the lowlands 

 never comes, there to build 

 " half-way houses on the road to 

 heaven." And although un- 

 musical in the lowlands, as soon 

 as he reaches the solitude of 

 the silent mountains the 

 Pipit rises on graceful 

 wings, a hundred feet in 

 the air, and breaks into song 

 with a melodious crescendo, 

 ending the flight and the 

 song in a precipitous drop 

 back to earth. 

 . In form, color, and tail-wag- 

 ging, the Pipit is so like the water 

 thrush as to be readily confused with 

 it but for one thing, — the thrush is 

 found alone, or in pairs, and dodges 

 about among the alders low over the 

 surface of a brook ; while the Pipit 

 flies high in the air, in flocks, for a 

 short distance, wheeling like the killdeer and alighting 

 near the starting point. This species is a common winter 

 visitant and migrant throughout Southern California, 

 while the water thrush is listed by Mr. Grinnell as rare. 



697. American 

 Pipit. 



" Up to the very 

 htghest peaks they 

 wander." 



