Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/292

266 on this point. From Seebohm's description I should say that the bird is an adult male in winter dress, and was in full moult at the time it was procured. Mr. Howard saw others, and under circumstances which led him to suppose that they had been bred in the district. On this score also Mr. Howard's surmise may be wrong, and the birds he saw may very likely have been a small flock, or family party even, resting on their return migration, as the date in this case also favours this view. Nevertheless, it is quite possible that the bird may occasionally breed on the north-west or west coast of Ireland—Mr. Howard has not met with the bird since, although he has several times returned to the coast; neither did I see it the last time I visited Donegal, and paid special attention to Pipits—and has been overlooked by Irish naturalists, from the fact that the spot where the bird was found is very secluded, and the ground is strictly preserved, no person being allowed to carry a gun in the district without the permission of the lord of the manor. In this communication I have purposely clouded localities—the counties only are sufficient; but I am pleased to say that should any of the birds return at any time there is not much danger of their retreat being invaded by collectors.

During my journey across Ireland from west to east, I paid special attention to Meadow-Pipits, after procuring my specimen, and did not see any more like it; they were all of the type with which I am so thoroughly familiar, but perhaps slightly darker on the upper parts when nearest the east coast. On the west coast they struck me as being distinctly greyer on the mantle and upper parts generally than in the typical birds. The general appearance of Mr. Howard's bird is very bold and striking. The throat is pale buff, breast and flanks a rich brownish buff, graduating into cream on the middle portion of breast and belly, under tail-coverts rich cream; from the throat to end of flanks a series of bold black stripes, but not so broad as in the summer specimen. Crown dark brown, centre margined with fawn-brown, cheeks and neck an obscure greyish brown, tinged with buff on ear-coverts. Mantle broad, black, centres with very distinct buffish white margins on the scapular region; middle of back and rump a more obscure black, margined with fawn-brown; upper tail-coverts fawn-brown, with more dusky centres. Tail—two centre feathers missing—blackish brown, fringed with light fawn, excepting two outer feathers, which have the outer portion dusky white to the base; second pair tipped only with dusky white. Wing—closed—dark hair-brown, margined with buff, the median and greater coverts broadly margined with a lighter buff; axillaries palest straw-yellow on outer portion, obscure grey on inner. Bill dusky along culmen and tip, other parts pale brown. Legs and toes whitish buff, nails dark umber. The general appearance of the bird fully bears out its specific name cervinus—fawn-coloured.