ROCK-riPiT. 587 



the year, building its nest in tufts of thrift, on the side of 

 the cliffs, and seeking its food among the seaweed when the 

 tide is out. Latham however had priority in publishing a 

 scientific name for the species. He says he saw it first in 

 the Leman Collection, but the example he describes was 

 obtained from Lewin, who found it in the Kentish marshes 

 and himself figured the species as the Dusky Lark in the 

 following year (1791). In that year also Montagu, whom 

 Latham had consulted on the subject, discovered it in all 

 rocky situations along the coast of South Wales from Mon- 

 mouthshire to St. David's and found it was known to some of 

 the fishermen as the Rock-Lark, — which name or its equiva- 

 lent, Rock-Pipit, has generally been continued to it, and 

 since Montagu's time few if any mistakes have been made 

 by British authors between this and our other common 

 species. 



The localities frequented by the Rock-Pipit are strikingly 

 distinguished from those in which the other Pipits are so 

 constantly found. The Rock-Pipit is scarcely ever seen ex- 

 cept within a short distance of the sea-coast, where it is 

 very generally distributed, remaining in this country through- 

 out the year. When the breeding-season is over it often 

 resorts in some numbers, though hardly so as to be deemed 

 gregarious, to low flat shores near the sea, and salt-marshes. 

 It feeds on marine insects, small univalve mollusks {Lltto- 

 rbup) and little crustaceans {Gammari), sometimes seeking 

 its food close to the edge of the retiring tide or wading 

 in the surf; and it may be seen very busily engaged 

 in the examination of the seaweed that is drifted ashore 

 in search of its living. Small seeds also form part of its 

 diet. Its flight is wavering and desultory. When disturbed 

 it flits from point to point, frequently repeating a shrill 

 chirp, and, when perched, agitating its body and tail with a 

 vibratory motion. The song of the cock is short, but loud and 

 cheerful in character, much resembling that of the Tree- and 

 Meadow-Pipit and delivered in the air with much of their 

 action. 



The Rock-Pipit makes its nest on the ground or on ledges 



