Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
By 1799
Primary Source Reference:
Charles Willson Peale, Lecture on Natural History 31. (ca. 1799). Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40. / https://ansp.org/research/library/archives/0000-0099/coll0040/
Additional Source Text:
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827), in his 31st Lecture (ca. 1799), evidently (i.e., based on his descriptions of their habits, which were copied from other authors) confused the Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) and Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis). Peale summarized, and sometimes copied verbatim, from Latham (1783: 374, A General Synopsis of Birds): "No. 1238. Tit-Lark, has a black bill, head & back of olive brown, spotted with black; breast yellow, with oblong streaks of black, of a slender form. No. 1239. Female is not quite so bright coloured. Alauda pratensis Linn. L'alouette de prez, ou la Farlouse. Buff. Pl. enl. 660. 1. They are frequent in England, but does not go further north than Sweden. They perch on trees. The hind claw is pretty long, but bent. It has a fine note, though not much variety in it, sings flying and sitting, builds its nest on the ground, lining it with horse-hair, and lays 5 or 6 eggs, hatches in June. It is said the Cuckow frequently lays [its] egg in the nest of this bird." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
Peale wrote, in "A Walk Through the Philad[elphi]a Museum" (1805–1806): "Tit-lark (A. pratensis) & female. They are frequent in England, but does not go farther north than Sweden. They perch on trees: sings flying & sitting. It is said the Cuckow frequently lays it egg in the nest of this bird." (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, coll. 0481)
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
Tree Pipit
Current Scientific Name
Motacillidae | Anthus trivialis
