Illustrations of Indian Ornithology.
This species differs abundantly both in habits and structure from A. Richardi, (which equals it in size,) and is one of the best marked species of the group. Richard's Pipit frequents chiefly marshy ground, and wet paddy-fields, and in such localities is more abundant in Southern India than I previously imagined. Other Pipits found in the Peninsula are as follows—A. maculatus, Hodgs.; A. arboreus, of Indian writers, very abundant as a cold weather visitant; A. striolatus, Blyth, placed by Mr. Gray in his list as a synonym of A. rufescens of Europe. This species appears also to be only a cold weather visitant. I found it abundant on plains near Nellore sprinkled with bushes of Euphorbia, on which the Pipit frequently perched. A. malagensis, Eyton, A. agllis, Sykes, and Jerdon Cat., A. pollescens, apud Sundevall. A most abundant and common species throughout all India. A. rufulus of apud Jerdon, Cat. No. 192., lately obtained by Mr. Blyth near Calcutta—and lastly, A. montana, Jerdon, olim A. rufescens, Cat. No. 191—only seen on the Neelgherries, where tolerably common.
