MOTACILLID^ — ANTHIN^ : PIPITS, OR TITLARKS. 



285 



31, 



88. 



mostly white. Bill and feet black. Length about 6.50; wing 3.00; tail about 2.75 ; bill 0.50; 

 tarsus 0.90; hind toe and elaw 0.65. A protean species of extensive dispersion in Europe and 

 Asia, occumng abundantly in Alaska ; there is some uncertainty to what form the American 

 bird strictly belongs. It is that with the whole side of the head, below the white stripe, slaty- 

 blackish, and some dusky markings on breast ; doubtless some Asiatic sub-species Qxmcmus 

 Swinh. ?) 



14. Subfamily ANTHIN/E: Pipits, or Titlarks. 



In these, the tail is shorter than the wings, 

 and composed of broader feathers retaining their 

 width to near the end ; 4 or 5 primaries usually 

 form the point of the wing ; the tarsi are rela- 

 tively shorter, usually about equal to the middle 

 toe; the lateral toes are longer, the points of 

 their claws reaching beyond the base of the mid- 

 dle claw; the hind claw is always lengthened 

 and straightened (as in the figure beyond given 

 of Anthus ludovicianus) ; and the coloration is 

 " niggled," that is to say, broken up in streaks 

 Fig. 158. -Meadow Pipit, f From Dixon.) and Spots. The Species of AnthivuB make up 



nearly or about half the famUy ; they are chiefly referable to the genus Anthus, of which, 

 however, there are several subdivisions. In typical Anfhus, the wing is longer than the tail, 

 and its point is formed by the outer 4 primaries, the 5th being abruptly shorter ; the hind 

 claw is nearly straight, and nearly or quite equals its digit in length. Neocorys only differs in 

 having the feet larger and tail shorter. In certain S. Am. forms, Pediocorys and Notiocorys, 

 the wing is more rounded, and 4 or even 5 primaries enter into the tip of the wing; in 

 several European subgenera only 3 primaries are abruptly longer than the succeeding ones. 

 Our Anthus is strictly congeneric with the European A. spmoktta, type of the genus. About 

 fifty species (among them six or eight Central and South American ones) are ascribed to 

 AnthiniB. They are terrestrial and more or less gregarious birds, migratory and insectivorous. 

 AN'THUS. (Gr. avBos, anthos, Lat. anthus, a kind of bird.) Pipits. BUI shorter than head, 

 about as vride as high at base, compressed in most of its extent, acute at tip, where distinctly 

 notched ; culmeu slightly concave between base and terminal convexity ; rictus slightly bristled. 

 Wings longer than tail, tipped by the first 4 primaries, 5th abruptly shorter. Tarsi not 

 shorter or rather longer than the hind toe and claw ; inner lateral toe rather longer than the 

 outer, or the two about equal. Tail extending beyond the end of the outstretched feet. 



Markings of upper parts distinct, and shade of under parts greenisli in pratensis 88 



MarUngs of upper parts obscure, and shade of under parts buffy in ludovicianus 89 



A. praten'sis. (Lat. pratensis, relating to pratum, a meadow. Fig. 158.) Meadow Pipit. 

 Upper parts pale greenish-brown, distinctly marked with blackish -brown centres of the feath- 

 ers; wing-quills and coverts clove-brown, edged with greenish-gray. Tail-feathers dark 

 brown, edged with, the greenish shade of the back, the outer one obliquely white for nearly half 

 its length, and others with white at the end. Cheeks olivaceous, speckled with dusky. Under 

 parts brownish-white with a tinge of greea, marked on the breast and sides with brownish- 

 black streaks running forward as a maxillary chain ; chin, belly, and under taU-coverts un- 

 marked. Bill duisky above and at end, the rest livid flesh-color ; feet obscure flesh-color ; iris 

 blackish. Length about 6.00; extent 9.50; wing 3.00; tail 2.50; bill 0.50; tarsus 0.75. 

 Europe ; North American as occurring in Greenland, and also, it is said, in Alaska. I have 

 seen Alaskan Pipits, certainly not ludovicianus, and apparently pratensis; but too young and 

 in too bad condition to furnish decisive characters. 



