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Distinctions. The fine warbler-like bill, together with the long hind claw, are dis- 
tinctive. The only other birds with such a claw are the Horned Larks and the Lapland 
Longspur, but the horns of the one and the sparrow-like bill (Figure 250, page 253) of the 
other make differentiation as a Pipit simple. Separated from Sprague’s Pipit by its 
practically uniform grey or dull olive back, and by its ruddy, or dull-buffy, instead of 
creamy, colour below. 
Field Marks. A ground-coloured bird, seen in the open in settled parts of Canada 
in the spring and autumn, often in large scattered flocks like the Snow Bunting and Horned 
Lark Its even coloration, constant habit of tail dipping, and the conspicuous white 
outer tail feathers are good field marks from all species except Sprague’s Pipit. Its gre- 
gariousness and its habitat of bare ground, sand dimes, or mud flats are good guides to 
identity. 
Nesting. On the ground in nest of grasses. 
Distribution. Northern North America, west Greenland, and eastern Siberia, breeding 
from the Arctics south to the limit of trees. 
A spring and late autumn migrant, occurring sometimes in large 
flocks and feeding in open meadows, ploughed fields, or on dry sandy 
uplands and shores. On its breeding grounds, it has the skylark-like habit 
of mounting and singing high in the air and descending in a perpendicular 
dive, like a falling stone. 
Economic Status. Coming as it does when the fields are bare, and 
eturning after the harvest, its food is necessarily confined to weed seeds 
and early or belated insects. Its effect must be beneficial. 
700. Sprague’s Pipit. American skylark. Missouri skylark. Anthus spraguei. 
L, 6*50. A generally dry-earth coloured Pipit, streaked and variegated above with brown 
and creamy ochres; below even, creamy ochre, slightly warmer on breast where it is 
somewhat sharply streaked with brown. 
pistinctions. Dull, soft coloration in simple design: warbler-like bill and long hind 
toe as a Pipit. Streaked or variegated above as Sprague’s. 
Field Marks. In life, not likely to be confused with its closest relative the American 
Pipit as it is a grass-haunter seldom seen when on the ground, and does not gather in flocks. 
As it rises from the grass it is more like a female Longspur or, because of its simple white 
outer tail feathers, a Vesper Sparrow. However, it has an entirely different habit of flight 
and instead of alighting shortly it is more likely to climb into the upper air and vanish 
overhead. Its flight song is unmistakable. Flitting around in wide circles, so high in the 
air as to be an all but invisible speck, it repeats over and over again in a thin sweet voice 
its simple little song. A it Ching } ^ng y Mng i -ring ) -ring r -ring, -ring, -ring” on a steadily 
descending scale, dropping about an octave in all, and lasting about five seconds. This 
may be repeated a hundred times or more with only a few seconds’ interval, between. Some- 
times it keeps steadily at it for twenty minutes, then it comes to earth in a straight dive 
like a falling stone and vanishes from sight in the short grassy covering of the prairie. 
It has much the sound of a very distant Wilson’s Thrush song, but is longer, less rich, and 
silver rather than golden in tone. Some say this flight song is the equal of, or even superior 
to, that of the famous Syklark of Europe. Needless to say these are not Europeans but North 
Americans who have earnestly tried to be impartial. Born Englishmen are just as emphatic 
the other way, which all goes to illustrate how much early associations and traditions mingle 
with our enjoyments, and that the native-born hears in familiar bird songs that which the 
expatriate can rarely appreciate in full. To those born to them the bag-pipes make satis- 
fying and inspiring music, and in those who were raised to them, the soft warble of the 
Bluebird, the monotonous recitative of the Robin, and even the thin wiry song of Sprague’s 
Pipit coming down from the clouds on the sere, broad prairies, tou h a chord that may 
not be stirred by the most glorious foreign songsters of the avian chorus. 
FAMILY — CINCLIDAE. DIPPERS OR WATER-OUZELS 
A small but remarkable group in which warbler and thrush-like 
characters are blended and modified by singular aquatic habits. As only 
one species is here under consideration the specific description will be suffic- 
ient for recognition. 
