THE PIPITS. 
T09 
Bangc in Great Britain. — All accidental visitor in spring ; two 
examples having been obtained, one near Brighton in March, 
and another near Rainham, in Kent, in April. It is quite 
possible that the species, which has a very wide distribution 
throughout the Palscarctic. Region, may occur more often than 
is supposed, as it may return in the spring migration with 
Meadow-Pipits, whose winter home it shares in many countries. 
Binge outside the British Islands. — A more eastern bird than 
the Meadow-Pipit, being found during the breeding season 
from Northern Scandinavia to Kamtchatka and Bering Is- 
land, throughout the high latitudes of Europe and Siberia, 
beyond the limits of forest growth. Its winter range is some- 
what interesting, as it does not visit India, but is common 
throughout China and the Burmese countries as far south as 
the Philippines and Borneo. To the west it winters in Persia, 
Egypt, and Abyssinia, and has also occurred in most of the 
Mediterranean countries at this season. 
Habits. — From Mr. Seebohm’s description of the habits of 
the species, these seem to be very like those of the Meadow- 
Pipit. He gives an interesting account of the nesting of the 
species in the Valley of the Petchora, and again on the Yenesei 
in Siberia. In Finmark he noticed the Red-throated Pipit 
beginning to breed in the last week of June. It was not so 
shy as the Meadow-Pipit, which was also plentiful in the same 
locality, and the song resembled rather that of the Tree-Pipit, 
the call-note being similar to that of the common Tit-lark or 
Meadow-Pipit. It is described by Mr. Seebohm as being 
very decidedly a swamp-bird, and rarely seen on the dry grassy 
hills, or on the rocky slopes. In North-eastern Russia he 
found the species very common, being almost as numerous on 
the tundra as the Lapland Bunting, which was the most abun- 
dant species of the region. As in Finmark, the species was a 
late breeder, arriving in the valley of the Petchora on the 17th 
of May, and passing further northward. On the 6th of June 
it arrived within the Arctic Circle on the Yenesei river. 
Best. — “ Entirely made of dry grass, the coarser pieces being 
used for the foundation, and the finest reserved for the lining. 
It is placed in recesses on the sides of the tussocky ridges 
which intersect the bogs.” {Seebohm.) 
