246 BRITISH BIRDS. 
material of which it is composed. Sometimes it is entirely made of dry 
fine grass, at others seaweed is intermixed or the stalks of various plants 
growing near the sea, and it is frequently lined with hair. Some nests 
have a considerable amount of moss in them; and Dixon has taken a nest 
on one of the Farne Islands in which there was a large white Gull’s 
feather in the lining. This difference of material is to a great extent 
dependent upon locality. Where the birds can obtain hair they do so; 
where fine grass only can be obtained it is generally used; whilst m 
localities affording a more extensive choice the materials are more varied. 
The eggs of the Rock-Pipit are four or five in number, but do not differ 
very much in colour. The ground-colour is generally so much obscured 
by the profusion of spots and streaks as to be scarcely discernible, but 
appears to be nearly white, occasionally slightly tinged with brown or 
ereen. The overlying spots vary from reddish to greyish brown, but the . 
underlying spots are always pale grey. On most eggs the markings are 
very small and almost confluent, sometimes forming a zone round the 
large end. Examples which are somewhat more boldly blotched, and 
others which are more sparingly spotted, are not uncommon. Occasionally 
a few very dark hair-like streaks occur, principally on the large end. 
They vary in length from °9 to °8 inch, and in breadth from ‘66 to ‘6 
inch. The eggs of this bird very closely resemble those of the Water- 
Pipit, but are on an average much browner and a trifle larger. Two 
broods are commonly reared in the season. The old birds are often very 
anxious when their nest is menaced. The female usually sits very close, 
often allowing herself to be almost touched ere she quits the nest, when 
she will sometimes flutter along feigning lameness to draw attention from 
her eggs or young. 
The food of the Rock-Pipit is chiefly composed of insects and their larvee 
and small shells, but it also feeds to some extent on small seeds. Much 
of its food is obtained on the seaweed which has been cast up by the storm 
above the usual high-water mark, and which in the glaring sun soon 
putrifies and abounds with millions of a little black fly. These flies are 
eagerly sought after by this industrious little bird, who sometimes 
pursues them a little way into the air. It also searches about on the 
sandy spots amongst the boulders, especially when the tide is out; and in 
winter Saxby states that it will even come to the doors and feed with the 
poultry, sometimes perching on the window-sills. The same writer also 
states that he has observed it regularly in autumn under the trees 
searching for insects, and especially for a small land-shell, amongst the 
dead leaves and twigs. It will sometimes follow the receding waves so 
closely as to be compelled to wade, and is doubtless often mistaken for the 
moment in such a situation for a small Sandpiper or Stint, until it rises 
and drifts away, uttering its complaining Ais¢ as it goes. 
