261 
OBSERVATIONS 
ON 
VARIOUS PARTS OF NATURE. 
BIRDS. 
In severe weather, fieldfares, redwings, skylarks, and titlarks, 
resort to watered meadows for food ; the latter wades up to its 
belly in pursuit of the pupae of insects, and runs along upon the 
floating grass and weeds.* Many gnats are on the snow near 
the water, these support the birds in part. 
,,* Mr. White perpetually confounds the common and tree pipits, the species he has above 
designated titlark" being a very diiFerent bird from that which he several times speaks of under 
the same name in his letters. Four species of this genus — anthus — are now admitted into the 
British /awna» three of which ai*e common birds in their respective localities. They form a very 
natural group, and are intimately allied with the different wagtail genera, which they resemble in 
every essential particular, though externally approximating towards the larks (alauda), in which 
genus they were arranged by Linnaeus and the other earlier naturalists, and by which general 
name they are still popularly known, our three common species being vulgarly denominated tit- 
lark, pipitlark, and mudlark. They have little affinity, however, for the lark genus, notwith- 
standing this apparent resemblance, and, in a system based on the physiological relations of 
species, should range at a considerable distance from them, being modifications of a distinct type 
of organization. In general aspect they are less energetic than the larks, stand higher on the 
legs, and run about much more in the manner of a wiater wagtail. They sing generally upon the 
wing, but never soar to any considerable height, nor have they the characteristic breadth of wing 
of the lark genus ; they ascend only a little waj', reiterating without intermission a single note, 
which only varies as they commence descending, at which time, as they slowly, with wings 
but half expanded, float obliquely downward, many of them utter strains of more interest. They 
further differ from the larks, and very strikingly, in the changes they undergo in plumage, a 
character of much importance towards determining the true affinities of birds. Thus, the larks 
are at first clad in a peculiar mottled garb, which is entirely cast at the first moulting, including 
the wing and tail primaries ; thej-^ also change their feathers once only in the year, thoug4i shed- 
ding the extreme tips of them in the spring ; but the pipits (like all the other wagtail genera) are 
dotible moulting birds, changing all but the primaries both in spring and autumn, and retaining 
their nestling primaries till the second autumn, that is, until the third (including the vernal) 
renovation of their clothing plumage ; their nestling garb, also, is simply intermediate between 
the diverse seasonal dresses of the old birds. 
To return, however, to the specific distinctions, which Mr. White altogether overlooked. The 
most abundant species is the common pipit [A. cGmmunis), or meadow pipit, as it is often 
called. This is by far the most generally diffused, and haunts everywhere, in all parts of the 
island, wild moors and commons, marshes, and meadow lands wherever situate, being equally 
common on the bleakest mountain heaths and along the richest water-meadows of the south. It 
is the smallest species, and one of the most typical, or characteristic of its tribe. The bill 
is slender and insectivorous-looking, the hind toe furnished with an elongated and straightened 
claw, as in the larks, which all the genus much resemble in their colours and markings. It sings 
generally on the wing, in the manner described, but its voice has little music to recommend it, 
