48 Among the Birds in Nortliei'n Shires. 



localities from the high inland moors down to the 

 marshy meadows and saltings of the coast. We have 

 found nests of this Pipit in the Rivelin Valley built 

 absolutely in shallow pools of stagnant water, the 

 moss of the foundation being saturated with mois- 

 ture. These nests contained the usual complement 

 of eggs and the birds were sitting upon them. 



Another characteristic bird of the moors, and one 

 with almost exactly the same migrational movements 

 as the Meadow Pipit, is the Twite. This unassum- 

 ing species is the one Finch of the wide undulating 

 expanses of heather. It may be readily identified 

 by the merest novice. Like a Linnet in general 

 appearance, but wanting the exquisite carmine flush 

 that adorns the more homely bird, as well as the 

 ruby-coloured patch on the crown, its distinction is 

 its bright-yellow bill. The Twite, most appropriately 

 called in many districts the "Heather Lintie", is 

 but a bird of summer amongst the heather, retiring 

 in autumn to the lowland fields, where we shall meet 

 with it again amidst much more pastoral surround- 

 ings. Usually one meets with it sitting on some 

 tall twig of ling, uttering its monotonous note, which 

 the imagination of ornithologists has syllabled as 

 twa-ite; hence the bird's trivial name. It will thus 

 sit and call monotonously until our nearer approach 

 disturbs it, and it rises and flits in a drooping man- 

 ner just above the heather to another perching-place 



