MEADOW PIPIT. 11 



length, and the longest of the tertials reaches to within a line 

 and half of the extremity of them, when the wing is closed. 

 The beak measures four and a half lines from the forehead ; 

 it is very slender, and distinctly notched. The tarsi measure 

 ten lines, the middle toe and claw the same ; the hinder toe 

 measures five lines, the claw six, sometimes seven lines, mak- 

 ing the whole expanse of the foot one inch, eight, or nine 

 lines ; the hinder claw is slightly arched, and very slender. 

 The tail is forked ; the central pair of feathers being some- 

 what shorter than the rest. The longest tail feathers measure 

 two inches five lines, and the upper coverts conceal more than 

 half their length. 



The whole upper plumage of this species is dusky, broadly 

 bordered with olive, and including the head and nape, the 

 back, and scapulars ; the upper-coverts of the tail are nearly 

 plain olive-brown. All the feathers of the wing are dusky ; 

 the primary quills are very narrowly bordered with olive, and 

 the outer one has a white edge ; the secondaries, tertials, and 

 coverts, more broadly bordered with the same. The two 

 central feathers of the tail are dusky, lighter towards the 

 edge ; the four next on each side are of a darker tint, with 

 narrow olive edges ; the fourth has a small wedge-shaped 

 white spot upon the inner web near the tip ; the outermost 

 feather has a larger wedge-shaped spot, and the outer web is 

 pale brown, or dirty white. The under plumage, from the 

 chin to the under coverts of the tail inclusive, is rufous- white, 

 richest upon the breast and flanks. Each feather upon the 

 breast has a round dusky spot along the shaft, the flanks are 

 similarly marked with longer spots. A line of dusky spots 

 commences at the base of the lower mandible, and extends 

 down the side of the neck ; another begins at the base of the 

 upper mandible, and passes beneath the ear-coverts. The 

 beak, which in this species is very thin and delicate, is dusky, 

 except the base of the lower mandible and edges of the upper, 



