. Our favourite song birds ; their habits, music, and characteristics . is season. The abundance orotherwise of this Pipit in many localities is entirelydependent upon the season. Thus in many low-land districts the bird is by far the most commonduring autumn and winter ; whilst in many uplandones it is only seen during spring and this proviso the Meadow Pipit may be foundon almost every variety of ground ; from the moorsand mountains and remote islets, to the commons,fields, highways, and swamps. This Pipit shows adecided preference for wet ground; summer andwinter alike it is sur
. Our favourite song birds ; their habits, music, and characteristics . is season. The abundance orotherwise of this Pipit in many localities is entirelydependent upon the season. Thus in many low-land districts the bird is by far the most commonduring autumn and winter ; whilst in many uplandones it is only seen during spring and this proviso the Meadow Pipit may be foundon almost every variety of ground ; from the moorsand mountains and remote islets, to the commons,fields, highways, and swamps. This Pipit shows adecided preference for wet ground; summer andwinter alike it is sure to congregate in swampylocalities. It shows no partiality whatever for trees,rarely perching in them, and passing most of itslife upon the ground, where it runs up and downin a very lively and engaging way in quest of prolonged frost this bird may frequentlybe met with near manure-heaps, or on the banks ofrunning streams, even approaching our houses topick up anything suited to its taste. In autumn itshows a very marked preference for ;,. Meadow Pipit THE MEADOW PIPIT 157 skulking closely under the broad leaves and utteringa very melancholy and complaining peep as it isflushed. At these seasons it is also to a largeextent sociable, and may sometimes be met with inconsiderable flocks. If disturbed, the entire flockwill rise in scattered order, flitting about in anaimless uncertain way, and eventually settling again,two or three birds at a time, here and there, torepeat the same manoeuvres if alarmed by the reportof a gun. The Meadow Pipit is certainly mostgregarious during autumn ; in winter the tendencyis to gather in small parties; but as the springdays return a further strongly marked sociability isnoticed. It is probable that the larger gatheringsare connected with migratory movement. By April most of our resident Meadow Pipits arescattered over their breeding area ; the flocks andfamily parties are disbanded ; the birds disappearfrom many haunt
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirdsen, bookyear1897
