The feathers of the rump form, however, the most distinctive character in this species; they have dark centres like those of the mantle, but in the Meadow Pipit, as we pointed out above, these feathers are of a uniform olive brown. Length 5·8 in.; wing 3·5 in. THE TAWNY PIPIT Anthus campestris (Linnæus) The Tawny Pipit is a regular summer visitor to the sand-dunes and arid wastes of Europe, breeding in some numbers no farther from our shores than the north of France and Holland. It winters in Africa. To England it has only been a scarce straggler, single examples having been obtained in autumn on our southern and eastern shores from the Scilly Islands as far north as Yorkshire. During the last year or two there is evidence that it may have bred in Sussex, adult pairs of birds having remained about the same spot during part of the summer till they were shot. The general colour is pale sandy brown with dull darker centres to the feathers. Two outer pairs of tail feathers white with brown margins to their inner webs, rest of the tail brown. Under parts warm buff, slightly striated with brown on the breast and paler on the belly. Length 6·5 in.; wing 3·6 in. RICHARD’S PIPIT Anthus richardi, Vieillot This eastern species breeds in Turkestan, Siberia, and Mongolia, but a large number yearly visit Europe during the autumn migration. In England a good many examples have been obtained, and closer observation may prove it to be a regular autumn migrant along our eastern and southern seaboard, as it is abundant on Heligoland every year. It has occurred once in Scotland and once in Ireland. It is a large bird and may be distinguished by its long hind claw; when seen on the wing it appears very dark. The feathers of the upper parts are sandy brown with dark centres, but the rump is of a nearly uniform brown. Wing coverts tipped with reddish buff. Outer pair of tail feathers white with dusky margins to the inner webs, in the next pair the dusky margin is much broader, remainder of the tail feathers very dark brown. Chin white, margined with brown spots; breast buffish and thickly spotted; belly white. Length 7·25 in.; wing 3·75 in. THE WATER PIPIT Anthus spipoletta (Linnæus) The Water Pipit breeds in the Alps, Pyrenees, and other mountain ranges of Central Europe, migrating in winter to the shores of the Mediterranean. A few odd stragglers have been taken in this country both in the spring and autumn migrations.