.15 



THE TREE-PIPIT. 



Antlius trivialis (L.). 



During the first fortnight in April a few stragglers of this 

 species were observed in widely scattered localities, but it was 

 not until the lb'th that a definite immigration was recorded. 

 On that day, however, an increase was noted in Somerset and 

 in Shropshire, but all trace of these birds was lost, only 

 stragglers being recorded during the next few days. 



On the 21st there was a slight increase in Kent, followed 

 on the next day by a general increase throughout the 

 south-eastern counties. The species then began to arrive in 

 some numbers, and between the 23rd and 27th Tree- 

 Pipits were noticed in the southern, midland and western 

 counties, and by the 29th had spread as far north as 

 Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire. On the 30th they 

 were observed at St. Catherine's light and an increase was 

 noted in Cheshire and in the west. During the first week 

 of May they continued to increase in numbers and to 

 spread northwards, being seen in Westmoreland on the 1st 

 and in Northumberland on the 2nd. 



Further immigrations, followed by an increase in numbers, 

 especially in the north, were noted in Hampshire on the 5th, 

 dth and 9th of May, but by that time the majority had 

 evidently settled down in their summer-quarters. There 

 were two further arrivals of small parties in Suffolk and 

 Kent on the 11th and 11th. The main line of immigration 

 into the country was by no means clear, but the evidence 

 seemed to indicate that an eastern route was followed. 



The Tree-Pipit was nesting in Nottingham on the 5th of 

 May and full clutches of eggs were found in Suffolk on 

 the 13th. 



