166 
ALATJDINJE. ANTHUS. 
tapering to a slit point ; cesopliagus of moderate width, with- 
out crop ; proventriculus oblong ; stomach roundish, com- 
pressed, with distinct strong muscles, large tendons, and 
dense, rugous epithelium ; intestine short ; coeca very small 
and cylindrical. Nostrils oblong, pervious, in the lower and 
fore part of the rather large nasal depression, which is fea- 
thered behind. Eyes of moderate size. Aperture of ear 
large, transversely oval. Head small, narrow, ovato-oblong : 
neck rather short ; body ovate, slender. Feet rather long ; 
tarsus touch compressed, with eight anterior scutella ; toes 
rather long, slender, compressed ; the first large, second 
and fourth about equal, third and fourth united at the base ; 
claws long, slightly arched, extremely compressed, laterally 
grooved, acuminate. Plumage soft, on the upper parts rather 
compact, on the lower blended ; wings rather long, of eigh- 
teen quills, the outer four nearly equal and longest, inner 
secondaries long and tapering ; tail rather long, straight, 
emarginate. 
The Pipits, although of a more slender form than the 
Larks, are very closely allied to them ; as they also are to 
the Wagtails, which differ chiefly in being of a more deli- 
cate form, with the tail much longer. They are small, ac- 
tive, restless birds, remarkable for their sharp, rather weak 
notes, which they utter in a rapid manner, and for their 
habit of vibrating the body when standing. They frequent 
meadows and pastures ; feed on worms, insects, and some- 
times seeds ; have a rapid, wavering, undulatory flight, nes- 
tle among the grass ; and lay four or five dull-coloured spot- 
ted eggs. 
98 . Anthus pratensis. Meadow Pipit. 
Upper parts olivaceous, spotted with dusky ; lower parts 
brownish-white, anteriorly tinged with red ; neck, sides, and 
fore part of breast marked with ovato-oblong, brownish-black 
spots ; the first quill shorter than the fourth ; the hind claw 
slightly arched, extremely slender, much longer than the first 
joint of its toe, and about five-twelfths and a half long ; feet 
light yellowish-brown, claws dusky. In summer the colours 
are much faded, owing to the abrasion of the greenish mar- 
gins of the feathers. The young have the upper parts more 
tinged with yellowish-green, and the dusky spots larger. 
