ANTHUS (Bechstein), the Pipit, a genus of birds separated by Dr. Beclustein from the Linter-an genus Alauda, a separation followed by Temminck, Cuvier, Lesson, and Selby, and justly ; for though the Pipits have a long hind claw, and are usually coloured, like the larks, their bill is more slender, in consequence of which they never, like them, feed on grain. In the form of the head, in the movenient of the tail, and their mode of life, they resemble the Wag tails (Motacille) on the one hand, and on the other the Blue-Breast (Sylvia Succica).
Adhering, then, to the distinction of Bechstein, we characterise the Pipits by the bill being straight, slender, somewhat awbshaped toward; the point, having the base of the upper mandible keeled, the tips lightly bent downwards, and notched. The nostrils, situated at the sides of the base of the bill, are oval, and partly concealed by a membrane : feet, with the shank (tarsus) generally exceeding the middle toe in length ; toes, three before and one behind, and with the outer too adhering to the middle one as far as the first joint ; the hind claw rather long. The wings have the first quill very short; the third and fourth the longest in each wing.
A. pratensis, tho MeadoW-Pipit, known also by the names Titlark, Titling, Common Titlark, and Moes-Cheeper, is a common British bird, occurring on the coasts as well as the interior of the country, and frequenting wet meadows, moors, commons, and pasture-lamb It usually builds its nest on a grassy bank or 'beside a tuft or turf.
It is to this species that the young of the cuckoo are most frequently consigned.
A. arborees, the Tree-Pipit, 'Moulow•Lark, or Short-Heeled Field Lark, is a larger bird than the last. It is only a summer visitant in the British Islands, arriving at the end of April, and departing in September. Its song is superior to that of the last. It frequently perches on trees. It builds its nest on the ground.
A. obscures, Dusky or Shore-Pipit, Rock-Pipit, Rock-Lark, Sea-Lark, Dusky Lark, is larger than the last species, has duller tints, and is entirely confined to the sen-ahore.
A. Spinohtta, Red-limed-LA Pipit, has been observed by Mr.
Macgiliivray in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh.
A. Richardi, Richard's Pipit, was first deeeribed as a British species by Mr. Vigour. (Maer;illivray, British Birds.) ANTIAIlIS is the botanical name of the half-fabulous Upae-Tree, of which so many idle stories were propagated some years since by travellers. It was said to be a large tree, growing in the island of Java, in the midst of a desert caused by its own pestiferous qualities; its exhalations were reported to be so unwholesome, that not only did they cause death to all animals which approached the tree, but even destroyed vegetation for a considerable distance round it ; and, finally, the juice which flowed from its stein, when wounded, was said to be the most deadly of poisons. To approach the Upits-Tree, even for the momentary purpose of wounding its stem and carrying away the juice, was stated to be so dangerous, that none but eritninala under sentence of death could bo found to undertake the task. As is usual in such cases, thin fable is founded upon certain natural phenomena which occur in Java. There is such a tree as the Upas, and its juice, if mixed with the blood in the body of any animal, is speedily fatal ; and there is also a tract of land in the same isbuid on which neither animal nor plant can exist. But the two cireimistancee have no relation to each other : the poisoned tract is a small valley completely surrounded by a steep embankment, like the crater of a volcano, and is continually emitting from its surface carbonic acid gas, which is alike fatal to animab; and plants; on the other hand, the poisonous Upas-Tree is not an inhabitant of the valley, for nothing can live there, but it flourishes in the woods, in the midst of other trees which are unharmed by its vicinity.
The Upas is a species of the genus A/tam-is, which belongs to the natural order A rtocarpe(r, a group of plants all of which abound in a milky juice, and many of which are poisonous. A. to.ricaria is the true Upas. It is not unlike A. macrophylla, which has been found on the north coast of Australia.