THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. 33 



I once had the pleasure of meeting with the Vinous 

 Pipet (Anthus rupestris) one rough March, the wind 

 blowing for several days from the east the marsh 

 was full of rock Pipits ; I observed a strange looking 

 variety with a reddish-brown breast, sitting upon a 

 barway ; its note, on being disturbed, was very dif- 

 ferent from the Rock-Pipit's. 



RICHARD'S PIPIT. 

 A nthus Richardi, Vieill. 



I have only upon one occasion had the pleasure of 

 meeting with Richard's Pipit. I observed a long- 

 tailed lark sitting on a gate in an island marsh when 

 the tide had covered the saltings, it flew from off the 

 gate to underneath a lump of deal plank which had 

 been used for repairing the marsh wall, from thence 

 into a cabbage garden and out of sight beside a pen 

 of sheep. Surely, Richard's Pipit must be a very 

 creeping bird. 



SKYLARK. 

 Alauda arvensis, Linn. 



The Skylark is everywhere plentiful. The first 

 fine day or two in February he begins to sing, 

 never failing to do so all the year except in rough 

 weather and moulting time ; just before a thick fall 

 of snow they migrate, but return again soon after 

 a thaw. 



D 



