156 BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 



THE MEADOW PIPIT 



THE Meadow Pipit or, as it is commonly named, 

 the Heather Lintie is one of the most abundantly 

 distributed birds on the mountains, and on almost 

 every moor its shrill note may be heard. 



Although resident in this country throughout 

 the year, they do not remain on the higher grounds 

 through the winter months, but seek more sheltered 

 quarters near the coast. At the earliest sign of 

 spring, however, they return to the moorlands 

 and there remain till late autumn. During the 

 winter they are mostly in flocks, but very soon 

 after their return to the high grounds they break 

 up and form into pairs. 



About the commencement of May the nest is 

 constructed, and although the usual situation is 

 amongst the long heather, all kinds of sites are 

 made use of under whin bushes, in banks, small 

 rabbit scrapes, and all kinds of unlikely spots. 

 The nest is a very neat little structure made of 

 heather and grass shoots, and lined with thin, dry 

 grass blades. Here four or five eggs are laid, of 

 a dark brown colour, and thickly blotched and 

 speckled with dark brown. They vary very much, 

 however, and are sometimes more grey than brown. 



The period of incubation is about a fortnight, 

 or slightly under, and the hen, when the eggs 

 are hard set, is a very close sitter, and when 

 disturbed half flies, half runs, from the nest as 

 though wounded. Often after a few yards she runs, 

 or even walks, constantly looking back to see what 

 is happening to her nest. 



This bird is victimised more than any by the 



