Stray Feathers/Volume 1/July 1873/Indian Pipits
Notes or some of the Indian Pipits.
By W. E. Brooks, Esq., C. E.
Last January, in walking over the barren treeless country south of Aescasole, which is undulating, having the slack places terraced for paddy cultivation, I met in one of these small paddy fields a single example of Corydalla Richardi, I was struck with the unusual note which it uttered as it rose, and I therefore followed it and shot it. The usual note of this species is not a loud, harsh, discordant one, as described by some author or other, I forget whom now, but is a soft double chirp, reminding one strongly of the note of a bunting. The flight is very undulating and strong. Of all small birds this one is the most difficult to shoot, from its excessive shyness; and unless the ground permits of a successful stalk, an approach within shot of a small bird gun, such as I use, is almost impossible. There the large wary pipit stands, with his head as high as possible, and his neck stretched to the utter-most to enable him to keep the best of all look-outs, and the moment forty yards is passed, that moment he flies, accompanied by any others within hearing of his note of alarm. How- ever, by dint of extra heavy charges, and by creeping along under the edge bunds of the paddy fields, T managed to secure a few of this very fine pipit. The places frequented were low grounds occurring below jhcels or talaos, the water constantly percolating through the reservoir bank kept the low grounds adjacent rather damp and in many places quite wet. Over a greater part of this low ground, the rice crop having been gathered, there now grew a small vetch with blue flower, entirely covering what had been the paddy field a couple of months before; and in these vetch fields, the large pipit of which I am speaking, delighted. Before retiring among the vetches to feed, they sat for some time as a rule, upon the little bunds which divided the fields, and when they did this, I found the best plan was to wait till the look-out was over and the birds had retired among the crops to feed. It was then possible to creep up within shot. In the same vetch fields, and also in the higher paddy fields all around were numbers of Corydalla striolata, and a few Corydalla rufula. Both these latter species are much more numerous all over this part of Bengal than C. Richardi. It is C. striolata which rises with the loud discordant note; and by the vote alone it is easy to distinguish this species, so utterly unlike is it to that of any other pipit. C. Richardi and C. striolata are two pipits of wonderfully the same coloration, and of almost the same linear dimensions. After all, it is only by the long stout tarsus, and large foot with long straight hind claw, that the bird can be readily distinguished from its close ally, save, as I have before remarked, by the utterly different kind of note. In the shape of the foot and proportionate length of tarsus and hind claw, to the size of the bird, C. rufula strongly resembles C. Richardi. As Blyth justly remarks, one bird is an exact miniature of the other. But C. striolata has a shorter tarsus in proportion, more slender, and the foot is of much less proportionate spread : the hind claw too is shorter, and much more curved and slender. A few dimensions here will not be out of place.
| Length. | Wing. | Tarsus. | Spread of foot. |
Hind claw. | |
| C. Richardi male | 7.25 | 3.4 | 1.17 | 2.22 | .7 |
| C.„ Richardi„ female | 7.37 | 3.6 | 1.25 | 2.25 | .65 |
| C.„ Richardi„ male | 7.5 | 3.72 | 1.25 | 2.35 | .7 |
| C.„ Richardi„ female | 7.2 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 2.24 | .72 |
| C. Striolata male | 7.15 | 3.63 | 1.03 | 1.7 | .42 |
| C.„ Striolata„ female | 6.9 | 3.5 | 1.07 | 1.76 | .55 |
| C.„ Striolata„ male | — | 3.25 | .96 | 1.6 | .43 |
| C.„ Striolata„ female | — | 3.5 | 1.08 | 1.65 | .48 |
The above measurements will give a good idea of the great difference in tarsus and hind claw between the two species. C. rufula is so much smaller than either of the others, that measurements of it are not necessary here. It generally measures about six inches in total length, and for its size has a large bill, and a singularly long strong tarsus, large foot, and hind claw for so small a pipit. It is a permanent resident from the south to the north of India and not, as far as I know, at all migratory like the other Indian pipits. I omitted noticing in the proper place, that the legs and feet of C. Richardi are not so fleshy in color as those of C. striolata and C. rufula; but are more yellowish, particularly the soles of the feet. The color of the inside of the mouth varies. This is generally a moderately bright yellow, but in some examples is pale flesh-colored. The latter are probably young birds.