SHORE PIPIT. 197 



dant in any place, is by no means uncommon ; but from its 

 being confined to the vicinity of the sea, it is not so much in 

 the way of being observed as the Meadow Pipit, which fre- 

 quents the same localities in winter, and being very similar, 

 is apt to be confounded with it. Montagu, who was one of 

 the first ornithologists who clearly distinguished it from that 

 species, discovered it " in great plenty on the coast of South 

 Wales, where it was known by some of the natives by the 

 name of Rock Lark ;" and afterwards found it not uncommon 

 on all the coasts from Kent to the Land's End in Cornwall. It 

 occurs on most of the Scottish coasts, especially those which 

 are rocky, and is not uncommon in the Hebrides. Along the 

 shores of the Frith of Forth it is not unfrequent, especially 

 during winter, when it betakes itself to the muddy and 

 marshy places exposed by the tide, as well as to rocks or stones 

 covered with fuci. Its food consists of insects, larvae, small 

 molluscous animals, and seeds of various kinds, in searching for 

 which it mixes with the Meadow Pipits, and sometimes with 

 Snowflakes and Sky Larks. In summer when masses of sea- 

 weeds happen to be cast on the shore and become putrid, they 

 find among them an abundant supply of larvae ; and at all sea- 

 sons they frequent the ebb, in order to pick up minute shellfish 

 and other marine animals, often mingling with Redshanks, 

 Turnstones, or Purres. The flight of this species is wavering 

 and desultory, and its cry is a repeated shrill cheep. When 

 disturbed while feeding, it flutters about, frequently repeating 

 its note, settles on a rock or stone, or on the grass, keeps vi- 

 brating its body, and waits until the intruder departs. But 

 although shy, it is so only after a fashion, for it seems to con- 

 sider itself safe at no great distance ; and, indeed, it may gene- 

 rally do so with impunity, for it is very seldom molested, neither 

 its colours nor the quality of its flesh being suflUciently attrac- 

 tive to the sportsman to induce him to hold it in request. It 

 is scarcely gregarious at any season, but in winter may be said 

 to be at least not unsocial. 



About the middle of spring it pairs, and towards the end of 

 April or the beginning of May forms a nest similar to that of 

 the Meadow Pipit, being rather bulky and composed of stems 



