ROCK PIPIT. 135 



As may be expected this bird is strictly limited to the 

 coast line, and from no inland locality is there any report 

 of its occurrence. As a nester it is more local than at any 

 other time of the year, the cliffs at and near Flamborough 

 being its chief breeding quarters. The nest has been found 

 in the Scarborough and Whitby districts, and I have also 

 seen considerable numbers of the birds, in pairs, on the Staithes, 

 Boulby, and Saltburn cliffs in spring and summer, so that there 

 can be little doubt that it breeds — sparingly, perhaps — 

 along the whole line of cliffs on the coast. On the low-lying 

 parts of the seaboard it is rare in the breeding season, although 

 the late J. Cordeaux stated that at Spurn he noted 

 old birds with young. I have no conclusive evidence as to 

 its breeding at the mouth of the Tees, but the nest and eggs 

 have been taken a few miles to the northward on the Durham 

 coast. 



In the autumn and winter, from September to April, 

 it is frequently found along the seaboard from the Tees to 

 the Humber, being most numerous during September and 

 October. In the early part of the former month the autumn 

 migration commences, usually continuing to the first half 

 of November, and at this period the bird may be commonly 

 met with ; at the Teesmouth I have not infrequently seen 

 small flocks consisting of from twelve to fourteen individuals. 

 The spring migration takes place in March and April, but 

 is not so pronounced as that of the autumn. 



Concerning the nidification habits of the Rock Pipit, 

 it may be of interest to state that near Scarborough on 12th 

 June 1881, a nest was found containing a Cuckoo's egg 

 besides those of the lawful owners ; the only recorded 

 Yorkshire instance of this bird acting as the Cuckoo's fosterer. 

 At Whitby a pair of these birds have, since 1902, chosen a 

 crevice in the stone pier in which to build their nest, and 

 there they annually succeed in bringing off their young in 

 safety. Another unusual building site is reported from 

 Bridlington, on i6th May 1879, by Mr. Major Lawson, who 

 discovered a nest amongst the herbage growing on the clay 

 cliff, and within four feet of high-water mark. 



