PIPIT. 
Dr, Cleland has thus described the nestlings : “ Length 1^ inches. Gape 
orange-yellow. Head covered ^vith hair-like feathers, yellowish ash, ^ in. long. 
Skin below dark slate. The same ‘ hairs ’ on back, shoulders and sides. 
Secondaries, })rimaries and belly bare. General appearance that of a fluffy 
hair ball, much the colour of the grass around the nest.” 
Capt. S. A. White A^Tites : “ A v'idely distributed bird, in fact^ one 
can say that it is found all over Australia. A most engaging bird and 
most useful. It certauily prefers the open plam country, yet it is to 
be fouird in the ranges and timbered country too. Its habit of running 
a yard or so, then swinguig its body up and dovm, produces a strange 
and captivating effect. The writer has met vdth it right through Australia 
from sea to sea ; the mterior bird is much lighter in coloration than those 
near to the coast. Breeds August, September, October and November. 
Places its nest in a depression of the ground and the usual clutch of eggs 
is three.” 
Mr. F. E. Howe has wwitten : “ In the grassy paddocks the Pipit is a common 
and peculiar form. We have noticed this bird, when flushed, rise with a graceful 
undulating flight, and uttermg its warble-like note with every upward plunge, 
until it attains a fair height, then the wings are folded and it drops like a stone 
to vuthin a few feet of the earth and skimming it for about six or seven yards 
before alighting. Here it usually selects an eminence and standing erect the 
tail is spasmodically raised and lowered. Nests were noticed at Ringw'ood 
containing eggs m September, and old birds were evidently feeding young as 
late as January.” 
]Mr. Frank Littler has written me : “ This bird is plentiful in Tasmania, 
and appears to be a partial migrant, disappearing for some months and 
retuniing to the open and cultivated tracts it prefers. Its food is obtained 
wholly on the ground, insects of all kinds dming the year, but in the 
winter eats grass seed, etc. It is a fairly fast runner, often preferring 
to use its legs to get out of one’s way. If forced to fly it does not go far 
except when escaping from some danger, or when moving from one locality 
to another. The breeding-season is from September to January, after which 
it congregates in small flocks.” 
]Mr. H. S. Dove’s notes read : “ This Pipit left Table Cape in April and 
arrived again the first week in September ; the bulk of them appear to leave 
Devonport about the same time, although numbers stay in the paddoclcs through 
the vdnter, and keep in good condition. On November 28th nest formd mtli 
four eggs which seemed well incubated. On December 8th four young were 
hatched, blind, tliicldy covered with long, dark, grey down; on 12th the eyes 
were opening ; on 16th still downy, wings sprouting, tinted brown and black. 
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