Pcniiiiio^ Birds. 



39 



species of Western Europe, nesting in tlie British Islands, and, according to Mr. 

 Howard Saunders, on the opposite shores of Northern France. In Northern Europe 

 its place is taken by the Scandinavian Rock-Pipit, ^-Inthiis rupestris. The species 

 can always he told by the smoky brown tint of the light portion of the outer tail- 

 feathers, which distinguishes it from all other British Pipits. Although, in my 

 opinion, the Scandinavian Rock-Pipit is easily recognisable in its summer plumage 

 from our own ,/. obsciinis, at other times of the 3'ear the 3'oung and winter birds are 

 indistinguishable. 



The Kock-Fipit is an inhabitant of our wilder coasts, and does not frequent the 

 more open portions during the breedmg season, though it occurs m winter on our 

 southern coast-line. In habits it closely resembles the Meadow-Pipit, and its food 

 is similar. During the breeding season the male flies up into the air to sing, and 

 warbles sweetly as it descends spirally with outspread wings. The nest is a rough 

 structure of dead grass with shore-plants intermixed, and lined with moss or hair 

 according to the facilities with which the bird can 

 obtain these materials. It is placed generally 

 close to the shore, but not unfrequently on a clifl 

 at some height. The eggs are four or five in 

 number, rather dark in tint as a rule, the brown 

 mottlings obscuring the greyish-white ground 

 colour. 



The Scandinavian Rock-Pipit (Anthiis nipes- 

 tris). As already remarked, there is no obvious 

 difference between this species and the ordinary 

 Rock-Pipit in the winter plumage or in that ot 

 the 3'oung birds, but in the summer dress 

 the two species are quite recognisable, the 



vinous breast of the Scandinavian form being a distinct feature. In this respect 

 it is allied to the Water-Pipit, but is easily separated from that species by the tint 

 of the light pattern on the outer tail-feather, which is smoky brown instead of being 

 white as in yi. spipulefta. 



The present species is an autumnal migrant to the eastern and southern coasts 

 of England, returning eastwards in spring, and moulting on the journey, as is the habit 

 of Pipits, which have a spring as well as an autumnal moult. Thus, the individuals 

 procured near Brighton in spring, generally shew traces of the change to the uniform 

 vinous breast from the preceding winter plumage with its striped breast. The 

 Scandinavian Rock-Pipit, in fact, follows the same line of western migration as the 

 Black Redstart IRntuilla titys), in the British Islands. In summer it is distributed 

 along the rocky shores of Scandinavia and the l^altic .Sea, as far as the WHiite Sea. 

 The habits and nesting are similar to those of our own Rock-Pipit, and the eggs are 

 indistinguishable from those of the last-named species. 



\ 



The Scanpin.avian Rock-Piimt. 



