ii8 THE ROCK PIPIT 



frequents wooded districts, and passes a large portion of its time 

 aloft among the branches, while the Meadow Pipit finds its happi- 

 ness on the ground. It is not, indeed, confined to the unwooded 

 country, for no bird is more generally diffused, and the nests of 

 both species, constructed of similar materials, may frequently be 

 found in the border of the same field, yet it often finds a home 

 in wild, barren districts, frequented by no other small birds but 

 the Wheatear and Ring Ouzel. I have even more than once 

 seen it alight on a tree, but this was apparently as a resting- 

 place on which it perched previously to descending to roost among 

 the heath on a common. Had I not been near, it would most 

 probably have dropped at once to its hiding-place as some of its 

 companions did. From its attachment to commons and waste 

 lands, the Meadow Pipit has received the names of Ling-bird and 

 Moss-cheeper. In winter it is more abundant in the plains, where 

 it may often be seen in smaU parties searching for seeds and insects 

 in recently-ploughed lands, well marked by its running gait and the 

 olive tinge of its upper plumage. Its song, which is not frequently 

 heard, is a short and simple strain, sometimes uttered on the ground, 

 but more generally, while rising or falling, at no great height in the 

 air. Its nest is only to be distinguished from that of the Tree Pipit 

 by the dark brown hue of the eggs which are somewhat similar to 

 those of the Skylark, only smaller. ' The egg of the Cuckoo is more 

 frequently deposited and hatched in the nest of the Meadow Pipit 

 than in that of any other bird,' says Yarrell. It is interesting to 

 know, now, that this bird — an immoral creature we might call it — 

 which never keeps to one mate, deposits its eggs in the nests of 

 about 145 species, taking the world over. 



THE ROCK PIPIT 



ANTHUS OBSCURUS 



Hind claw about equal in length to the toe, much curved ; upper plumage 

 greenish brown, the centre of each feather darker brown ; a whitish streak 

 over the eye ; under parts dull white, spotted and streaked with dark 

 brown. Length six inches and three-quarters. Eggs dull white, mottled 

 with dingy brown. 



Except that it is somewhat larger, the Rock Pipit is very similar 

 in form and colour to the last species. It is, however, far more 

 local, being confined exclusively to the seashore, but there of very 

 common occurrence. Every one familiar with the sea-coast, must 

 have observed it moving through the air with a jerking flight, 

 occasionally alighting on a rock or on the beach near the line of 

 high-water mark, searching busily for marine insects. In spring, 

 it frequently takes little flights inland, never to a great distance, 

 repeating its simple song aU the while, and chasing as if in spcrt 



