-131 No/ tecs and Descriptions of various [May, 



mit of a small tree ; emitting, before they fly, a chirp not unlike a 

 Sparrow's. 



These birds vary in size ; the male being generally about seven inches 

 and a half, or seven and five-eighths (sometimes nearly eight inches), 

 long, by twelve to twelve and a half in alar expanse ; closed wing three 

 inches and five-eighths to three and seven-eighths ; and tail three inches 

 to three and a quarter : tarse generally an inch and a quarter, or at 

 most an eighth less ; and long hind-claw commonly about five-eighths, 

 sometimes prolonged to above three-quarters of an inch. Bill dusky 

 above, yellow at base of lower mandible, and duller yellow anteriorly 

 sometimes to near the tip ; legs yellowish-brown, very yellow on the 

 soles; inside of mouth bright yellow in adults. Younger individuals 

 have the interior of the mouth faintly lutescent carneous ; and the base 

 of the lower mandible much the same. 



Such are the common dimensions of this species : but I once obtain- 

 ed a male, so different in appearance from others shot on the same 

 occasion, that I was inclined to regard it as distinct, until examination 

 of an extensive series convinced me of the contrary : the specimen 

 differs most remarkably in its conspicuously shorter tarsi and toes ; the 

 streakiness of its crown is more decided and strongly marked than 

 usual ; and there is less white on its outer tail-feathers, and that more 

 sharply defined. Length seven inches and three quarters by eleven and 

 three-quarters ; wing three and five-eighths ; tail two and seven-eighths ; 

 tarse only an inch ; middle toe without claw not three-quarters ; and 

 hind-toe (minus claw) but half an inch, instead of nine-sixteenths to five- 

 eighths of an inch. The brevity of tarse corresponds with Yarrell's 

 figure of the leg of this species, in * British Birds,' I, 388 ; but the toes 

 of the latter are more of the ordinary development. 



Richard's Pipit occurs in collections from the Himalaya and from 

 Arracan ; but Mr. Jerdon enumerates it as a rarity in the south of 

 India. The Anth. australis, Vieillot, if not identical, must be nearly 

 allied, to judge from the description of it on the Diet. Class.; and this 

 is referred to "Australasia," a name of doubtful signification, since 

 some authors confound it with Australia, while others intend by it the 

 great Oriental Archipelago and neighbouring mainland ; for which 

 Austral- Asia is by no means a bad appellation.* 



* The Society has since received what is doubtless the true Anth. australis, from 



