A SHORE-HAUNTER. 193 



near the nest the bird hovers round, uttering incessantly its 

 shrill querulous notes, and thus, and by its restlessness, 

 betrays its alarm, and often points out the very spot which 

 it wishes most to conceal. 



ROCK OR SHORE PIPET. 



The food of this bird consists of insects, larvae, small 

 molluscous animals, and seeds, in searching for which it 

 mixes with other birds, but chiefly those of its own genus. 

 In summer, when masses of sea-weed are cast on shore 

 and become putrid, the Shore Pipet finds among this an 

 abundant supply of larvaa. 



Mudie describes this bird as inhabiting the sea-shores, 

 and finding the principal part of its food at and within 

 high -water mark. In manner its song in spring, and its 

 chirp at all times, bear a very close resemblance to those 

 of the Meadow Pipet. It runs with great ease along the 

 sand, picking up its food, and when alarmed it hops onward 

 with a bouncing flight. The nest is formed of bents or 

 other plants growing near the sea, and lined with finer 

 fibres, or with leaves. The eggs are not more than five, 

 yellowish grey, with reddish brown spots, especially at the 

 thick ends. There are two broods or more in the course 

 of the year, 



N 



