THE PERCHING BIRDS. 161 



nest, found on the ground early in April, is usually not far 

 from water of some kind, if only a pond, and is large and 

 deep, of grass lined with bents and roots. Eggs, 5, 4 inch ; 

 grey, "wdth brown spots and lines. I took in one year seven 

 eggs of the cuckoo out of the nests of these birds, and 

 indeed the vagrant must find it j)laced more conveniently 

 than most. 



Med-throated Pipit. — A rare straggler from Northern 

 Europe, which has occurred twice in Sussex and Kent. 



Taivny Fipit. — A rare straggler, mostly to the Sussex 

 coast, on autumn migration. 



Richard's Pipit. — An irregular autumn straggler to this 

 country and Scotland, distinguished by the great length of 

 its hind-claw. 



Water-Pipit. — A rare straggler to the Sussex coast, on 

 which four examples have been taken. 



Resident on all our rocky coasts, the little Eock-Pipit 

 may be seen, especially down in Cornwall, tripping over 

 Kock- the decayed seaw^eed in search of insects 

 Pipit. a^jj(j molluscs. It is a sober-coloured creature, 

 lightest on the breast. The hind-claw is long and curved. 

 Two races are known, of which the lighter-hued northern 

 form is by many authorities regarded as sj)ecifically dis- 

 tinct. On the flat east coast the bird does not breed, and 

 is rare even on winter migration. The nest, of seaweed 

 or cliff grasses, and lined with soft bents or feathers, is 

 placed among the rocks Two broods are, as a rule, 

 produced. Eggs, 5, i inch ; greyish white, with red- 

 brown spots. 



