2o8 The Rock-Pipit. 



the Hebrides, St. Kilda, the Orkneys, and Shetland, and is also common in the 

 Faroes, although not known to visit Iceland or Greenland." 



John Cordeanx in his " Birds of the Humber District," says that this species 

 " Occasionally occurs during the autumn within the Humber, either on the sea 

 embankments or along the borders of the marsh drains." 



This apparent discrepancy between the statements of Seebohm and Cordeaux 

 is explained by Howard Saunders, who observes : — " generally frequenting, during 

 the breeding-season, those portions of the sea-coast which are of a rock}- nature- 

 conditions which are not found between the Thames and Humber ; although during 

 autunm and winter it is found on salt-marshes and in the mudd}- estuaries where 

 there is sea-weed." 



The adult male in the spring is olive-brown above, streaked, excepting on the 

 rump, with dark-brown, the outer pair of tail-feathers is characterized by an oblique 

 smoky-grey patch on the inner web ; * an ill-defined bufi&sh superciliary stripe ; 

 chin whitish ; remainder of under surface buff, warmer on the breast, and more 

 olivaceous on the flanks, which, together with the throat and breast, are streaked 

 with dark-brown : bill deep-brown, the lower mandible paler at the base ; feet 

 brown ; iris hazel. The female resembles the male but is probabh* smaller. In 

 the autumn the plumage of the upper parts becomes more olivaceous and that of 

 the under parts yellower. The young are more heavily streaked on the flanks 

 than adults. 



As I never had an opportunity of studying this bird in its wild haunts — the 

 cliffs, rocks, and lowlands of our sea shores, and the desolate islands near our 

 coasts — consequently I never personally took its nest ; it was, therefore, with great 

 pleasure that I examined a series of clutches of the eggs obtained at Uist, in May 

 1884, by Mr. T. Copeland, and forwarded by him to Mr. Harting. A clutch of 

 five eggs was subsequently presented to me b}' Mr. Copeland. 



Gatke (The Birds of Heligoland) sa3's that this species " is a solitar}-, serious 

 creature, little caring for the societ}' either of members of its own or of other 

 species. While searching for food, it walks step b}' step, only rarely at an accel- 

 erated pace, over the sea-tang on the shore, or on the rocks and (i/cbn's exposed at 

 low tide at the base of the cliff. It utters its call-note onlj- when taking to flight, 

 a single call repeated after rather long pauses. The note is deeper and longer 

 drawn than that of the Meadow-Pipit, and has an agreeable sound, by no means 

 harsh like that of the Tree-Pipit ; if the bird is suddenh' surprised, it often in 

 flying away utters its call two or three times in succession. It is b}- no means a 

 shy bird, and never flies very far ; if repeatedl}- disturbed while bus}- at the foot 



* In the Water-Pipil this patch is white. 



