SONG BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



July, it may be seen mounting in the air in a 

 fluttering manner, at the same time uttering a twit- 

 tering note, and then descending to some neigh- 

 bouring tree with motionless wing, and the tail 

 thrown up. At this time it sings, but never when 

 rising.* 



The Tree Pipit is larger than the other species, 

 and heavier ; but it is more compactly feathered, 

 and more slender at the shoulders. It frequents 

 the rich country, but more on the margin of the 

 woodland than that of the open wild. It has, in 

 consequence, some resemblance in its habits to the 

 sylvan warblers, upon whose domain it borders, 

 and with which it makes its appearance, and takes 

 its departure. 



Its single cry, though " peeking," is more musical 

 and less melancholy than that of the other Pipits ; 

 and its song is also sweeter, and being warbled 

 from a greater elevation, and in places that are 

 more frequented, it is more generally heard. It 

 generally, if not always, nestles upon the ground ; 

 constructs its nest of vegetable fibres, and lines 

 it with finer fibres and hair. But it never builds 

 far from trees ; and when the male is in song, he 

 generally makes use of a tree as an intermediate 

 station, both in rising in the air, and in descending 

 to the ground. By successive leaps, he gains the 

 top of the tree ; and after having rested there for 

 a little, he leaps higher into the air in a similar 

 manner, and chirping as he leaps. When he has 

 gained the top of his ascent (which is not very 



* Ornithological Dictionary. 



