THE ROCK PIPIT 83 



birds take in concealing it under the bits of rock or amongst 

 the long grass and sea-campion on the top of the low cliffs 

 near the sea. I have found it in a disused Puffin's burrow, 

 also under a broad slab-like stone, and in the ruined walls of 

 a hut. I once met with it in a crevice of the cliffs close to 

 where a colony of Eazorbills were breeding. It is a simple 

 but well-made little structure, composed of fine and coarse 

 grass, and frequently lined with hair, if that material can be 

 obtained. I once found a nest of this bird on the Ferae Islands, 

 in which a large white Gull's feather had been inserted in the 

 lining. The young naturalist will often feel puzzled over the 

 nest of the Eock Pipit, because the bird uses so many kinds 

 of materials in its fabrication. Some nests are almost ex- 

 clusively composed of moss; others have bits of seaweed 

 mixed amongst the usual materials. The nest is made at 

 varying distances from the water, sometimes close to the 

 waves, on the summit of the low rocks, at others far back 

 from high- water mark, amongst the rough sandy ground where 

 thistles and other tall weeds are plentiful. The eggs are four 

 or five in number, and are remarkably uniform in colour and 

 size. The ground colour is dirty bluish-white where it is 

 visible, and the markings, which profusely cover the surface, 

 are reddish or grayish brown. Some eggs are streaked with 

 darker brown on the large end. The markings are generally 

 small and scattered evenly over the surface, but occasionally 

 they are thickest on the large end, where they sometimes form 

 a zone or circular patch. The female sits closely, and when 

 the nest is discovered both birds become very anxious for the 

 safety of their treasure, flying wildly round and round, or 

 perching at a distance on some rock or stone, keeping up a 

 chorus of complaining notes. I have often approached the 

 nest within a few feet before the sitting-bird has fluttered out, 

 when her anxious cries soon brought the male upon the scene. 

 This is when the nest contains highly incubated eggs or 



