eats. Bemg constantly seen in such

Vignes. Yn Savoy it plays a
arious ways, principally by a
be shot at one discharge

t, which, I believe, it never
he names of Vette, Becfigue, and Becfigue de
and it is there captured or killed in v

and fifteen or twenty may
‘tis never seen in such abundance, and

than by the frui

abounding there, rather

situations, it is known by t
very important part as an article of diet,
but the gun is sometime
mnal migration 5

and shot required to procure
ould be compensated for his time, patience and trouble. In

itinental brethren are very different people ; and I can
| Wrens being exposed for sale in the markets
ould form for them a bonne bouche not

s employed,

with us, however,
a dish of Tree-Pipits would not be too great to

kind of clap-net 5
while resting during their autur

I question if the cost of powder
ive, or if the bird-catcher w
ttle birds, we and our col
e heard of strings of Robins anc

esent bird with its rolls of fat w

render it remunerat
the way of eating all kinds of li
easily imagine, from what I hav
of Rome and other places, that the pr

to be despised.
Hitherto I hav
range, however,

tinent, Madeira, North Africa, Palestine,
e the species of this

enting England, Scotland, and a portion of Europe ; its
‘s far more extensive, since it has been observed all over the central portions of the con
Persia, and some parts of India: further west than this it would
form inhabiting China and Japan is, I believe,
of this form, the sexes are alike in colouring,

e only spoken of this bird as frequ

not be safe to assign it a locality, sinc
the Pipastes agilis. As is the case with the other members
and the young at a month old differ but little from the first autumu moult of their parents.

As a songster the Tree-Pipit is in some respects unsurpassed by any British bird. Though its notes may
perhaps be deficient sn the softer modulations which characterize those of the Blackcap and the Redbreast,
ightingale itself. Its joyous outburst rings through the surrounding
groves in a manner almost astonishing even to those most accustomed to it, while they make a stranger
of some truant Canary. The bird seems to delight in singing
At such times it may be observed springing into the air
forth its loud triumphant carol, which suddenly ceases

in power they exceed those of the N

suspect that he is listening to the tones
during the sunny intervals of showery weather.
and, while on the wing, with quaint gestures, pouring

as it alights on some neighbouring tree.

Notwithstanding the curved form of its short hind claw, it runs over the ground with great agility; at the
¢ = 9

: oe oe 2
shy and t | e in disposition, and displays the elegance
of its form by exposing itself readily to the v
of a tree, the end of a vine-pole, or the crown of a hillock, a stone, or any conspicuous elevation

The nest is a slight structure, placed with little artifice, in a depression on the side of a bank or
the grasses in the open field or shrubbery, frequently under the shelter of a bush or ue a he ay - ae
regard to its oe Mr. Hewitson remarks that there are none ‘“ which present so many a oe Ae
varieties as those of the Tree-Pipit. No one would at first believe them to be eges of 1 sc
and it was not until I had captured the bird upon each of the varieties, and al oe hein Foun
Doubleday similarly attested, that I felt satisfactorily convince ie : oa ie one
The most common kind are somewhat smaller ee ieee o ae nae ae Pee
fine dots of a livelier tint; the others are of as many shades of pale lil ik fish hae ee
pale lilac, purplish, or buffy red, more or

less minutely spotted, and blotched with darker tints of the same hue

ame time it is less shy and recluse than its congeners, is more tam
iew of the spectator while lightly perched on some bare branch

‘«¢ The nest of this species,” i
ecl ; Mr. Hewits : .
ie i a adds Mr. Hewitson, “‘is composed chiefly of dry grass mixed with moss, lined
rasses, and some 5 i oe : ’ Nae ne
ee e : A al with a few hairs. It is placed on the ground, rarely far distant fi '
rushwood, and is fre : g : ant irom tec
i. - ee eas found in woods and plantations by the side of a drive or footpath. TI
avourite resort of the Tree-Pipit is a g Bee OO ae Ie
rassy bank on tl i
ne § n the margin of a w speci :
few single trees, on the branches of which it delights to pe i I os especially if ornamented by a
rch. In such a situati ;
nest and eggs towards t ce a situation you are sure to find its
sg a he end of May or during the month of Jun Th : .
Feathers of the head and all the upper surface b eee es e eggs are four or five in number.”
: se brownish black, broadl i : :
coverts y ee : : » DrOa mare V ° Sano;
: oo black, tipped with greyish white ; primaries deep b y margined with reddish grey; wing-
Paeeietrincrotidaric brown occupyi p brown ; outer tail-feathers whitish, with
ee. ee c. : ae the basal three-fourths of the margin of the in bet ,
; ee ee, : ner we ¢
ee. , a deeply indented mark of whitish at the tip of the int a ee os
y de rown ; above the eye a streak of buff; ear-coverts b : he inner ee
: ‘ aye p 9 ar-coverts br me , .
paler on the chin and centre of the abdomen, and havi ee: under surface fawn-colour, becoming
Beate across the breast , ing a series of dark-brow c i
al . n streak
eee ast, and on the flanks; bill fleshy brown, lighter on tl a dow shel
: g 1e under mandible; legs and feet

9 cl us a, )