PIPIT. 
CroU reported the finding of a nest on the top of Momit Bogong (6,508 
feet), the liighest mountain in Victoria. 
MeUor and Wliite noted at Flinders Island: “ Thinly distributed over 
the island. Specimens were secured, as expected, much darker on the back 
and darker marked on the breast m comparison with those from Australian 
specimens or more open localities.” 
Mr. Tom Carter’s notes read : “ The Rufous (?) Pipit is generally distri¬ 
buted in open comitry tlmough the Gascoyne and North-west Cape districts. 
They are scattered about, in pairs, everj'where, and are not gregarious, nor do 
they seem to be affected by droughts, but keep to their accustomed haunts. 
The birds have a pleasant little song, uttered as the male (?) flutters upwards, 
but for some reason it is not very often heard. They frequently perch on 
bushes. The breeding-season appears to be any time after good rains have 
fallen. The nests are built in a small hollow on the ground, as in the depression 
caused by a horse’s foot. The nesting material is abnost entirely grass. Tlmee 
eggs appear to be the full clutch. At Point Cloates May 2nd, 1896, three eggs ; 
May 22nd, 1900, two eggs ; August 21st, 1894, three eggs ; August 13th, 1911, 
nest in horse’s foot print, two eggs, bare groxmd aU romid it, absolutely no 
vegetation vdthin many yards. September 2nd, 1913, three fresh eggs at 
Carnarvon. On my 1913 trip I shot some very rufous birds near Yardie Creek 
and I also procured some about Carnarvon. 
“ The Western Pipit is conunon in open coimtry through the south-west 
of West Australia. It is not seen in heavy timber coimtry m its natural state, 
but as soon as a homestead is formed and some land around it cleared, a 
pan or two of the birds make their appearance. This I noticed on my oAvn 
land at Broome Hill. Soon after my house was built, and the timber close 
romid it thnnied out, some Pipits appeared m the unmediate vicinity, 
and in the paddocks where no Pipits were seen when the timber was 
growing they soon came after the trees were killed by ring barkuig. 
These birds frequent liigh roads a good deal, and a pair of birds may 
be seen at the same place all the year. The nests are built on the 
gromid, in a tuft of grass or rushes, and the breednig-season lasts from 
August till January. Three eggs are usual and the full clutch. Dates at 
Broome Hill, August 21st, September 4th, October 9th, November 25th, 
December 23rd, each three fresh eggs. January 20th, 1910. Small young 
birds in nest at Albany.” 
HaU, recordbig birds from the Fitzroy River, North-west Austraba, collected 
by Rogers, observed: “ Two specimens of the brown variety are to hand. 
. . . In writing of these as the bromi variety, I do so as a distingmshing mark, 
because of the mtensely rufous phase (of wliich I have skins) in a more southern 
VOL. xn. 
137 
