15G 
] i E I ) - T 1 1 R () A T 1-; I) r 1 1 ’ 1 r . 
Specific Characters . — Featliera of upper ])arts blade, distinctly 
bordered with prey, so as to j^ive a splendid appearance to the 
plumage. Cheeks, throat, and breast of the male, and throat of 
the female, russet red, with longitudinal dark spots. Hind toe of 
equal length with the claw; the latter as much or more curved 
than that of the Eock Pipit. 
Length of male six inches and a half; from carpus to tip throe 
inches and a half; beak from gape three quarters of an inch; beak 
along ridge of upper mandible half an inch; tarsus nine tenths of 
an inch; hind toe two fifths of an inch; claw two fifths of an inch; 
middle toe seven tenths of an inch, and its claw a quarter of an 
inch. Length of female six inches ; carpus to tip three inches and 
one tenth; beak from gape seven tenths of an inch; beak on upper 
ridge two fifths of an inch; rest as male. 
The Pipits are a very natural but distinct family, 
closely allied to the Wagtails on the one side, and to 
the true Larks on the other. They are also very similar 
to each other, differing principally in colour, and in the 
shape of the hind claw. Each species is in fact adapted 
to the circumstances of its existence. Our own British 
species illustrates this very well. The Tree Pipit living 
principally on trees or hushes, has the hind claw short 
and curved; the Meadow Pipit, which lives more on 
the ground, has the hind claw double the length of the 
former, but nearly straight; while the Pock Pipit, which 
lives upon insects and seeds found on the mud of rivers, 
has the hind claw considerably curved, which enables it 
to secure a firm footing on the mud. This bird is 
tolerably plentiful in the neighbourhood of Colchester, 
and my friend Dr. Maclean, who has studied the habits 
of birds for many years with great care, assures me 
that when disturbed on the banks of the river, it never 
lights upon the turf, but always upon the mud by the 
river side. I have myself verified this statement. 
The Ped-throated Pipit belongs to the Pock Pipit 
