148 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
being admitted into the cabinet: the most general 
colouring appears to be a light ground, very thickly 
smeared and spotted with rusty brown, almost 
hiding the ground colour in a lightish grey ground, 
much spotted with dusky. 
Rock Pirir, Anthus petrosus. The Rock Pipit is 
common throughout the whole length of our coast, 
but in no other part of the county—indeed, I believe 
this bird is never found far from the sea: it is 
resident with us throughout the year. 
The food of the Rock Pipit consists of worms 
and marine insects, for which it may constantly 
be seen searching amongst the sea-weed and rocks 
or pebbles on the beach, occasionally running up 
quite close to the breaking waves. I have occa- 
sionally seen Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits 
engaged in this search in company with the Rock 
Pipit. 
The nest of the present species is placed on the 
ground, either on grass-covered rocks or banks a 
little above the sea:* it is made of several sorts of 
dry grass and a few sea-weeds. 
The Rock Pipit is larger than either of the last 
two species. ‘The beak is dark brown on the upper 
part of the upper mandible, and on the point of 
both mandibles, the base and edges of both man- 
dibles pale yellow-brown; irides dark brown; head, 
* Meyer’s ‘ British Birds,’ vol. ii., p. 280. 
