TREE-PIPIT— LARKS 209 



similar, and another external character which they 

 have in common is the greatly lengthened hind toe- 

 nail. The Pipits build their nests on the ground, 

 usually in sheltered places, and the eggs of some spe- 

 cies are much more brilliantly coloured than are those 

 of the Wagtails. 



The Tree-pipit is fairly well distributed throughout 

 Europe, though on account of its sober colouring it 

 seldom attracts attention. It has a pleasing and rather 

 powerful, though limited, little song. While able to 

 perch upon trees, the Tree-pipit, like the other species 

 of this group, seems more at home on the ground, 

 where it runs actively about, with much jerking of the 

 tail. Resembling the Meadow-pipit, it is larger, and 

 has a shorter hind-claw. See Plate 10, Fig. 49. 



The smallest of the European Pipits, or Titlarks, 

 is the Meadow-pipit. This dainty little bird may be 

 seen in suitable localities throughout the year in the 

 British Islands. 



The American Pipit, or Titlark, is the most widely 

 distributed species in this country. In colouring it is 

 greyish-brown above, faintly streaked with darker 

 brown; the under parts are buff, streaked on breast 

 and sides with blackish. The end half of the outer 

 tail-feather is white, the one next to it has white on the 

 end, and the wing-coverts are tipped with white. 



These little birds breed in the far North, migrating 

 southward in winter to Mexico and Central America. 

 When a flock is startled, it is said to rise high in the 

 air, as if for a long flight, but after hovering for a few 

 moments, to return to, or near, the place from which 

 it rose. 



