THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



155 



Food.— This consists of insects, small 

 worms, snails, slugs, spiders, &c. 



Habitat. — This bird is common during 

 summer all over England, in suitable places. 

 In Scotland it is not so common, and in 

 Ireland it is only a rare visitor. It seems 

 not so partial to the immediate vicinity of 

 water as the other two species, but may be 

 found on comparatively high land in stubbles 

 and pastures, but may also be seen in low 

 meadows bordering rivers. 



Abroad it breeds in central and western 

 Europe ; has been found in Turkestan, and 

 winters in Africa. 



Nest- — The nest is placed upon the 

 ground in a field of young corn or grass, or 

 on a river bank. It is rather loosely made 

 of dry grass, roots, and sometimes bits of 

 moss or wool, lined with finer roots and 

 hair. 



Eggs. — From four to six eggs are laid. 

 The ground colour is yellowish or pinkish 

 grey, thickly but obscurely freckled with 

 yellowish or brownish olive, sometimes with 

 a black wavy line at the large end. The 

 eggs of this species are very similar to those 

 of the Sedge Warbler. 



Varieties are rare. Mr. Bond has seen 

 two or three nests in which the eggs were 

 of a bright buff colour. 



Genus IX. Anthus, Bechstein. 

 Anthus. 



The members of this genus are chiefly 

 ground birds, the bill is of moderate thick- 

 ness, with the ridge at the base slightly 

 elevated. The wings have the first three 

 quill feathers of nearly equal length ; the 

 tertials are long. The outer toe is united 

 to the middle one at the base, and the hind 

 claw is long and curved. 



They feed upon insects, and one species 

 is a summer migrant. 



They nest upon the ground, and the eggs 

 run through shades of brown and red, 



Three species are native of this country, 

 and four others have occurred as visitors. 



60. TREE PIPIT. 



Anthus Arboveus (Brisson). 



Arboreus. — Arbor (Lat.)=a tree. 

 Size, — Length, 6^ in. ; expanse, n in. 



Plumage. —Bill pale horn colour, 

 lighter at the base of the lower mandible. 

 Eyes brown. Top of head, ear coverts, and 

 back olive brown, dark brown in the centre 

 of each feather. Wing coverts and tertials 

 brown, broadly margined with pale buff; 

 primaries and secondaries blackish brown, 

 with narrow buff margins. Tail, outer 

 feathers white on the outer and most of the 

 inner web. The second feather has a white 

 spot at the tip on the inner web. A pale 

 streak extends over the eye. Throat, breast, 

 and under parts buff, with a series of dark 

 spots beginning at the base of the lower 

 mandible and extending down each side 

 and across the breast ; legs brown. 



The Female resembles the male, but not 

 quite so large or so bright in colour. 



In Winter the back becomes more olive, 

 and the breast deeper in colour. 



This and the following species are very 

 similar in plumage, but the following points 

 pointed out by Mr. Yarrell, will serve to 

 distinguish the two. The Tree Pipit is 

 rather larger, the beak stronger, the spots 

 on the breast larger and fewer in number, 

 the claw of the hind toe not as long as the 

 toe itself, tertial feathers of the wing longer 

 in proportion to the primaries, white on 

 outer tail-feathers not so large nor so clear. 



Immature Birds are similar to the old 

 birds in winter, 



Varieties. — Mr. Bond has one very 

 much pied with white, which is given upon 

 the plate (fig. 2.) There is a white one in 

 the rich collection belonging to Mr. Mar= 

 shall, of Taunton. 



Note.-— This species has a very pretty 

 song, its beauty being enhanced by the ele- 



