EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 267 



THE TAWNY PIPIT. 



{Anthus campestris.) 

 Plate 58a, Fig. 13. 



About a dozen examples of this species have been obtained, 

 mostly near Brighton. The Tawny Pipit is a summer visitor to 

 Europe, and breeds in suitable localities as far north as lat. 57°. 



The nest is made of dry grass, often intermixed with a few stems 

 of coarse herbage or straws, together with roots, and lined with 

 horse-hair, although in many cases fine roots alone serve the 

 purpose. 



The eg<*s are five or six in number, and are subject to some little 

 variation ; the more boldly spotted eggs very closely resemble 

 those of the Kufous Warbler, whilst others might be mistaken 

 for eggs of the Crested Lark. The ground-colour varies from 

 very pale greenish-blue to creamy -white, which is always pro- 

 fusely spotted, but never sufficiently so as to hide it. The over- 

 lying spots are reddish-brown, and the underlying spots are grey. 

 The spots are generally elongated, more or less into streaks, and 

 are biggest at the large end of the egg; they are sometimes bold, 

 irregular-shaped blotches, but consist, not unfrequently, of small 

 streaks or nearly round spots, and are sometimes dark and rich in 

 colour, but more often somewhat paler and dull. The number of 

 variations is very great, but the range of variation is compara- 

 tively small. The eggs are from 095 to 0-8 inch in length, and 

 in breadth from 069 to 0'6 inch. 



THE ROCK PIPIT. 

 {Anthus obscurus.) 



Plate 58a, Fig. 14. 



The Rock Pipit is a resident on all the coasts of the British 

 Islands, with the exception of the low-lying eastern shores south 

 of Spurn, where it only appears as a straggler or on migration. 

 Its range in Europe appears to be confined to the rocky portions 

 of the coasts of North-eastern Europe from the shores of the 

 Baltic to the Bay of Biscay. 



The nest differs considerably in the material of which it is com- 

 posed. Sometimes it is entirely made of fine dry grass, at others 



