268 EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



seaweed is intermixed or the stalks of various plants growing near 

 the sea, and it is frequently lined with hair. 



The eggs of the Rock Pipit are four or five in number, but do 

 not differ very much in colour. The ground-colour is generally 

 so much obscured by the profusion of spots and streaks as to be 

 scarcely discernible, but appears to be nearly white, occasionally 

 slightly tinged with brown or green. The overlying spots vary 

 from reddish to greyish-brown, but the underlying spots are al- 

 ways pale grey. On most eggs the markings are very small and 

 almost confluent, sometimes forming a zone round the large end. 

 Examples which are somewhat more boldly blotched, and others 

 which are more sparingly spotted, are not uncommon. Occa- 

 sionally a few very dark hair-like streaks occur, principally on 

 the large end. The eggs vary in length from 0'9 to 0"8 inch, and 

 in breadth from 0*66 to 0'6 inch. They very closely resemble 

 those of the Alpine Pipit, but are on an average much browner 

 and a trifle larger. 



THE SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPIT. 



(Anthus rupestris.) 



Plate 58a, Fig. 15. 



This is a vinous breasted form of our Rock Pipit, which occurs 

 in Western Scandinavia, and as far east as the White Sea. It 

 visits the east and south coasts of England on autumn migra- 

 tion and passes east again in spring. The nest and eggs are 

 apparently identical with those of the ordinary Rock Pipit. 



THE ALPINE PIPIT. 



{Anthus spinoletta.) 

 Plate 58a, Fig. 16. 



The Alpine Pipit has only been obtained in our islands on five 

 occasions. It is a very local resident in most parts of moun- 

 tainous Europe. It has not been recorded from Scandinavia or 

 North-west Russia ; but it is said to pass through Denmark and 

 Heligoland on migration, and it appears to breed in the Ural 

 Mountains up to lat. 64°. 



Its nesting-site is selected on the ground or in a crevice of the 

 rocks : sometimes a site is chosen amongst the stones ; but it is 



