624 
COKYDALLA EICHAEDI, 
places it “ frequented were low grounds oceurring below jheels or talaos the water eoiistantly percolating 
through the reservoir-hank kept the low grounds adjaeent rather damp, and in many plaees quite wet. Over 
a greater part of this low ground, the rice-crop having been gathered, there now grew a small vetch with blue 
flower, and in these vetch-fields the large Pipit of which I am speaking delighted. Before retiring among 
the vetches to feed they sat for some time, as a rule, upon the little bunds which divide the fields ; and when 
they did this I found the best plan was to wait till the lookout was over and the birds had retired among the 
crops to feed. It was then possible to creep up within shot.” In Ceylon the Marsh-Pipit exhibits none of 
tliis shyness when inhabiting public resorts, but is, on the contrary, very tame. In wet weather in the Eastern 
Province I have, however, found it somewhat wary in marshes. Mr. Seebohm observed that it hovered like 
a Kestrel at its great breeding-grounds on the Yeuesay. In Furreedpore it is said to frequent fields of peas, 
linseed, &c. ; and, according to Jerdon, it is always found “in swampy or wet ground, grassy beds of rivers, 
edges of tanks, and especially wet rice-fields, cither singly or in small parties.” 
Nidificaiion . — There is not much known about the nesting-habits of this fine Pipit. It is probable that 
our birds all breed in Thibet and Turkestan. Col. Prjevalski,the celebrated Russian traveller and ornithologist, 
found it breeding in Kan-su, where it arrives in Alay ; and Dr. Scully considers that it hatches its young 
about the beginning of July in Eastern Turkestan. In Northern Asia Mr. Seebohm shot the young in 
August on the Yenesay, so that its breeding-season throughout Central Asia must be June and July. Con- 
cerning its breeding in Dauria, Mr. Dresser writes as follows ; — “ Dr. Dybowski writes ( J. f. 0. 1868, p. 334) 
that it is common in Dauria, and remains there to breed; but lie gives no information as to its habits or 
nidification, excepting that he found its nest, and that it deposits five or six eggs ... It is curious that, although 
this bird has been so frequently met with in various parts of Europe, and must breed there (for I have before 
me European-killed specimens in young plumage), there does not appear to be any reliable instance on record 
of its nest having ever been taken in Europe ; and, in fact, next to nothing is known respecting its nidi- 
fication. I have a clutch of five eggs collected by Dr. Dybowski in Dauria ; but they were sent to me 
without the nest, which I am therefore unable to describe.^’ These eggs are described as being greyish 
white, closely spotted with gi-eyish olive, and as measuring 0-9 to 0'78 by from 0-67 to 0-62 inch. 
