ANTHIDiE. 
224 
THE TEEE PIPIT. 
Anthus arbor eus, Beclist. 
Alauda trivialis, Linn. 
„ minor, Lath. 
Is not satisfactorily known as an Irish species. 
On April 12th, ] 827, I for some time gave attention to a bird at 
“the Falls/ * that from general appearance, manner of singing, 
&c., I concluded must be of this species, as described by Mr. 
Selby. One or two ornithological friends likewise, have similarly 
observed pipits in the neighbourhood of Belfast, which they pre- 
sumed to be the A. arboreus, but specimens have not been ob- 
tained for examination. It is believed to have bred about Balli- 
tore, county of Kildare, * and at Eaheny near Dublin ; in the latter 
locality in the summer of 1847, but could not be met with in 
1848.+ 
Possibly the tree pipit may be alluded to in the following pas- 
sage from Smith's History of Cork, published in 1774 (p. 338, 
2nd edit.) : — “The Alauda joratorum, Aldrov., or titlark, which is 
in England a bird of passage, is a stranger to Ireland. Dr. Butty 
informs me that an eminent bird-catcher is now introducing them 
as a novelty in Dublin, being in much esteem for their sweet note. 
Another species, called the pippit or Alauda minor, whose legs are 
yellow, and a smaller kind of lark, is a constant attendant to the 
cuckoo, as a good bird-catcher assures us." 
The tree pipit is a regular summer visitant to England and 
Wales, but would seem not to be generally diffused over those 
countries. The first heard of by Mr. Macgillivray, as met with in 
Scotland, was killed in 1833, and two others in addition to it, are 
all known to that author to have occurred there (vol. ii. p. 190). 
Sir Wm. Jar dine merely notices its appearance “in the middle 
and northern parts of Scotland." (B. B. vol. ii. p. 206.) 
* Mr. R. Davis. 
f M. R. J. Montgomery. 
