A NTH IDE. 



INSESSORES. 



DENTIROSTRES. ANTHIDJI.. 



PLATE XCIL 



MEADOW PIPIT. 



Anthus pratensis. 



This pretty and lively species, "which is one of the com- 

 monest of our English birds, appears to have a very wide 

 distribution throughout the Old World. Temminck says 

 of the Meadow Pipit (the Pipit farlouse of the third part 

 of his Manuel) i that it is very common in Holland, and 

 that its range extends northward from that latitude, beyond 

 the Arctic circle. According to the same author, this species is 

 very abundant in Dalmatia, and in the island of Cicily, where 

 it lives in large companies. It appears also very common in 

 Japan, from whence specimens have been received exactly 

 similar to those of Europe. 



At a cursory view the appearance of this bird bears great 

 resemblance to the preceding species, namely, in the tints 

 and distribution of its colours, the form and character of its 

 wings and tail, and in its general manners. The tints of its 

 plumage are, however, at all seasons more olivaceous : its beak 

 is more slender ; and the hinder claw r , instead of being short 

 and hooked, is very long and nearly straight. In the local- 

 ities it frequents, also, great disparity of habits may be 

 observed, for although this bird may be found in the culti- 

 vated and sylvan districts inhabited by the tree-pipit, it does 



