155 



1868, and noticed a bird building on April 4, but the great majority of 

 his nests were taken in the latter half of May and in June, Average size 

 of 100 eggs measured by the writer, 22.21 X 16.11 mm.. Max. 24 X 16.5 

 and 22.5 X 17 mm., Min. 19 X 14.2 mm. The last measurement is taken 

 from a clutch which is somewhat smaller than any of the others. As will 

 be seen at once, the eggs of this form are on an average decidedly larger 

 than those of A. s. ohscurus. 



f. Scandinavian Rock Pipit, A. spinoletta littoralis Brehni. 



Plate 17, fig. 17, 18 (Denmark). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfi., Tab. XXV, fig. 11, a— c. Baedeker, 

 Tab. 35, fig. 4. 



Foreign Names: Denmark: Skjaer Fiber. Finland: LuotoJdrvinen. 

 Norway: SkjaeryiplaerTie. Sweden: Skdr Piplcirka. 



A. ohscurus (Lath.) [part.]. Newton, ed, Yarrell, I, p. 586 {A. ru- 

 pestris Nilss.); Dresser, Birds of Europe, III, p. 343; id. Man. Pal. Birds, 

 p. 216; Saunders, Man., p. 143. A. spinoletta littoralis Brehm. Hartert, 

 Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 284. 



Breeding Range: The coasts and islands of Scandinavia. 



A fairly common breeding species along the whole Norwegian coast Con- 

 line and islands, but not penetrating far up the fjords, from the Cattegat 

 to the Varanger Fjord. In Russian Lapland it is found W. of the Ribatchi 

 peninsula, but is absent from the Murman coast and the shores of the 

 White Sea. Birds from the N. (Varanger Fjord, etc.) differ somewhat as a rule 

 from those found on the W. coast (See Aplin, Zool. 1896, p. 379). In 

 Sweden it is found along the coast line from the most southerly part up 

 to about lat, 61°, and has been recorded from Bornholm, but does not breed 

 on Gotland. It has also been found nesting on some of the Danish islands 

 in the Cattegat (Deget, Hirtsholmen and Nordre Ron), and Vejro in the 

 Samso Belt (Winge). 



In nesting habits it resembles the British and Faeroe races. The nest Nest. 

 is built of bents and moss, seaweed being also used at times, and reindeer 

 hair has been found in the lining. Diameter of cup, 2f in., depth 

 nearly 2 in. 



Usually 5 in number, sometimes 4. The few that I have examined Eggs. 

 were rather pale in colour, and a blackish hairstreak is often found at the 

 big end. Reddish types are apparently not found. 



On the west coast of Norway it is one of the earliest breeders, and Breeding 

 often has young before the end of May, laying again in June, but in the 

 high N. probably only one brood is reared, and the eggs are laid at the 

 end of May or early in June. 



tinental 

 Kurope. 



