19 lO. Patten — Tree-Pipit on Tuskar Rock. 
89 
though the tertials are usually proportionally longer in the 
wing of the Tree-Pipit (extending as far back as the tip of 
the longest primaries), it is by no means uncornmon to 
find this condition in the wing of the Meadow-Pipit; in 
fact having had an opportunity of examining a very large 
series of the latter species I have seen several specimens 
in which the tertials even extended back beyond the 
longest primaries. And no doubt were one afforded the 
opportunity of examining a large series of Tree-Pipits' 
wings, the reverse condition would be found in a small 
percentage of specimens. Hence all one can say is that 
it is more usual for the tertials in the wing of the Tree- 
Pipit to extend as far back as, and in the wing of the 
Meadow-Pipit to fall short of, the tip of the longest 
primaries. It would appear, however, that the tertials 
of the Tree-Pipit are rather more pointed than those of 
the Meadow-Pipit, but the number of Tree-Pipits' wings 
which I have examined has been too small for me to 
speak authoritatively on the subject. In regard to the 
pattern of the plumage, it is so very similar that 
mistakes in the identit}^ of the two pipits might very 
readily arise. In shade so many variations manifest them- 
selves even in the individual species that identification 
might present difficulties. 
But having determined that the wing in question at least 
belonged to either a Tree-Pipit or a Meadow-Pipit, it was 
quite an easy matter, on examining the foot and seeing the 
short and strongly curved hind-nail, to exclude the latter 
species. No Meadow-Pipit, in the large series which I have 
examined, showed a hind-claw, not only so short but so 
strongly curved. The hind-claw of the Tree-Pipit com- 
pared with that of the Meadow-Pipit is unmistakable, it 
has none of the attenuated spur-hke character found in 
the claw of the latter species,^ in fact it much more closely 
resembles in length and curvature the hind-claw of a typical 
sylvan bird, i.e., a warbler. For this reason were one to 
examine the foot alone of a Tree-Pipit it might not be so 
easy to arrive at a correct diagnosis of the species. 
Vide Irish Naturalist, 1912 (Fig. B., Plate 4), facing p. 209. 
