Pirtr. PASSERES. ANTHUS. 219 
the arable districts ; and is never found upon the moors or Haunts. 
extensive downs, where the Meadow Pipit is always most 
abundant. It is pretty generally, though but thinly, scattered 
through the cultivated parts of the island. Like most of our 
summer visitants, the arrival of the male bird precedes that of 
the other sex by a week or ten days.—As soon as a proper situa- 
tion is found, he commences his song of invitation, which, Song. 
though possessing some similarity of note to those of the two 
preceding species, is very superior to them in compass, va- 
riety, and sweetness. This he pours forth from the top of a 
tree, or on wing, as slowly descending to the spot from 
whence he had previously risen. During his ascent he never 
sings, producing only a twittering note, similar to. the word 
T'see, frequently repeated, till he arrives at his highest eleva- 
tion ; then he commences together his song and his descent, Flight. 
which is performed with motionless and widely extended 
wings; the tail at the same time being expanded and thrown 
perpendicularly upwards. Mownracu very correctly observes, 
that this bird rarely alights upon the ground, without previ- 
ously perching on a tree, and that it also commences its flight 
from a tree, after leaving the ground. 
It builds its nest under the shelter of a large tuft, or a Nest, &c. 
small bush; this is composed of moss, fibres of root, and 
withered grasses, lmed with fine dry grass, and horse-hair. 
The eggs, four or five in number, are of a greyish-white, 
sprinkled all over with brownish purple-red specks. 
Like the others of its genus, it runs and walks upon the 
ground with ease, feeding upon insects and worms. The Food. 
Lesser Crested Lark of Atprovanpus, and of succeeding 
writers, appears to be but the present species; and Bewtcx’s 
descriptions of the Field Lark, T'rce Lark, and Grasshopper 
Lark, in the first volume of his ‘ British Binds! seem only 
referable to the same individual. 
Puate 49. Fig. 5. Natural size. 
The whole of the upper parts of the plumage deep oil- General 
green; the feathers upon the head, and those of the up- fone 
