Birds of Britain 



have been taken in this country both in the spring and 

 autumn migrations. 



The upper parts are of a uniform greyish brown ; under 

 parts buff, paler on the belly and browner on the flanks. 

 There is a short light stripe immediately above the eye. 

 The tail feathers are brown, except the outer vane of the 

 exterior pair and the tips of the second pair, which are 

 white. This forms at all seasons and ages a mark by which 

 this species may be distinguished from the Rock Pipit. 



THE ROCK PIPIT 



Anthus obscurus (Latham) 



This species, which very closely resembles the Meadow 

 Pipit but is slightly larger, is found along the rocky coasts 

 of our islands. 



It is strictly an inhabitant of the sea-shore and never 

 wanders inland, but finds its food, which consists of flies, 

 small mollusca, and marine insects, on the beach and rocks 

 or among the rough tangle of sea-weed left dry by the 

 retreating tide. The nest is placed on the ground, in some 

 crevice of the rocks, or in a grassy bank, and the eggs, large 

 for the size of the bird, are pale greenish grey, uniformly 

 and densely mottled with olive brown. This species is 

 largely migratory, and after the breeding season wanders 

 round the whole of our coasts, inhabiting in winter the salt 

 marshes and estuaries of our eastern and southern counties, 

 as well as the more rocky portions of our shores. 



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